ELYRIA, Ohio— Deputies in Lorain County are scrambling to respond to emergency calls after 41 patrol cars are set to be repossessed due to a default on a vehicle fleet loan, forcing law enforcement to consider unconventional transportation options like ride-sharing services, such as Uber.
The Lorain County Deputies Association issued a press release criticizing the county commission for failing to make payments to Enterprise Fleet Management — the company where the cruisers are leased — resulting in impending seizure of the vehicles. The association said the repossessions Monday, leaving deputies to remove gear and personal items from the cruisers in preparation for their turnover.
“We want the equipment necessary to do our job and an administration that has our backs,” the release stated. “Now we finally have a supportive administration, but the commissioner’s ineptitude has cost us our equipment, and your safety.”
Association Secretary Matthew Lawson, who signed the release, questioned how the sheriff’s office could effectively provide services without cruisers. “How is the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office expected to respond to calls with no cruisers?” the release asked. “How can we efficiently provide safety services to our residents?”
The statement also raised broader concerns about political decisions impacting public safety, urging residents to demand better from their leaders. “Why do politics continue to affect your public safety?” it read. “At the end of the day, we strive to do the best job we can, go home safely and provide the best possible service to the residents of Lorain County.”
In a postscript, the release humorously inquired: “P.S. Does anyone have contact details for Uber?”
Lorain County, located in northern Ohio along Lake Erie, has a population of about 312,000. The commissioners’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The deputies association, representing patrol deputies, pressed the financial impact, noting that taxpayers had already paid over $570,000 in lease payments as part of the contract. The default means 41 of the county’s patrol cruisers will be repossessed, according to the release.
Law enforcement experts say such disruptions could delay response times and compromise officer safety.
The situation brings sunshine to a dark room where ongoing tensions between the Sheriff and county leadership is tense, with the association calling for accountability.
“Their decisions have put the Lorain County population at risk,” the release said. “Ask any law enforcement officer what they want, and they will tell you the same thing.”