{"id":243,"date":"2020-10-20T11:47:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T11:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jamesbreletic.com\/?p=243"},"modified":"2020-10-21T00:49:49","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T00:49:49","slug":"high-visibility-guyton-police-vehicles-sport-new-look","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jamesbreletic.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/20\/high-visibility-guyton-police-vehicles-sport-new-look\/","title":{"rendered":"HIGH VISIBILITY Guyton police vehicles sport new look"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mark LastingerEffingham Herald<\/em> Updated: Oct 20, 2020, 12:29 PM<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GUYTON \u2014 Barely a year after coming close to disappearing, the Guyton Police Department has become highly visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Breletic made it his mission to raise the department\u2019s profile after he was named its chief in March. He unveiled a striking method of accomplish his objective before a Guyton City Council meeting on Oct. 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBasically, the city council has gone forward with my vision and we have changed the color scheme and design of our police cars,\u201d Breletic said. \u201cThe reason for this is that we want a higher profile and be seen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department is ditching its mostly black look for bright white with neon blue and red trim. The lettering is made of reflective material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou want to be seen when you stop somebody,\u201d Breletic said. \u201cThe officers are ecstatic. They really are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officer Ben Johnson said students \u201coohed and aahed\u201d the first time he pulled into the Guyton Elementary School parking lot in one of the new-look vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey think it\u2019s cool,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after Breletic\u2019s hiring, the city council allocated $56,000 in SPLOST funds for the purchase of two 2018 Chargers. They were quickly ordered but didn\u2019t arrive until last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause of COVID-19, it took a period of time to get them shipped from one place to another and get them done,\u201d Breletic said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chargers, which were used in Kansas and have about 49,000 miles on them, were outfitted with a lot of equipment, including radios and radar, already in the Guyton Police Department\u2019s possession, thereby cutting costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe grand total was $53,620. That\u2019s under budget,\u201d Breletic said proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat means there\u2019s $3,000 that can be used for something else in the city,\u201d Breletic said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New equipment includes a ergonomic console that helps officers fill out reports and perform other duties. The cars also sport multiple cameras equipped with recorders that provide a view of backseat passengers and outside areas around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m grateful for the council allowing us to do that,\u201d Breletic said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cars are also well lit. They have a bank flashing lights across the top and the door-mounted mirrors have emergency illumination, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think people are going to see us,\u201d Breletic said. \u201cWe have take-down lights. We have regular lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have all kinds of stuff we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the license plate is surrounding by red and blue LEDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd when the lights go on, the cameras go on,\u201d Breletic said. \u201cThe only lights I had to buy were some bulbs. All these lights came with them,\u201d Breletic said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chief said the all-wheel drive Chargers have a warranty on the drive train until 2024. He noted that it will take a few years to rotate the  remaining black ones out of his department\u2019s six-vehicle fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of  (the new-look cars),\u201d Breletic said. \u201cI hope my officers enjoy them and I hope our citizens will be proud of our department. It\u2019s another way to go forward to give back to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In previous years, the Guyton Police Department was beset by problems and turnover. It dwindled to a single officer at one point in 2019 and has had three chiefs since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a change unrelated to vehicles, the department recently added Officer Don Williams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are gearing toward trying to go to 24-hour coverage for the City of Guyton,\u201d Breletic said. \u201cWe are jigging the schedule around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breletic is basing the department schedule on crime statistics. His department is supported by the Effingham County Sheriff\u2019s Office when it doesn\u2019t have an officer on duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy goal is to go 24 hours and I\u2019m sure the council has the same goal,\u201d he said.LATEST<\/p>\n\n\n\n