New RPD police cars on the way

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett didn't waste any time in his quest for new equipment for his department.
Hargett was in Huntsville Friday morning, ordering new police cars, thanks to action taken Thursday night by the Russellville city council.
The city will have a new fleet of police cars sometime in May or June, Hargett said. The money will also be used for new portable radios, a new dispatch console that will replace a 25-year-old console used by the department currently, all-new equipment in the cars and a new computer network for the department.
The loan is for seven years, and the first payment is deferred one year from the purchase date. The money is loaned at 3.3 percent interest.
The council approved the loan unanimously, but Mayor Johnny Brown expressed reservations about the move.
Councilman Craig Grissom responded to the mayor in the meeting by saying that buying the cars is a safety issue.
The council has discussed the issue in work sessions for the past two months. Hargett said he has worked hard in putting together the proposal since he got the job late last year.
In other action Thursday night, the council: