Camps Help Town Secure New Police Vehicle

Mentone is known as the “summer camp capital.” These camps are more than just places that build up the lives of boys and girls — they are also a big part of our community.

Several of our camps have helped purchase a total of five vehicles through the years for the Mentone Police Department. Our mission of serving and protecting the community includes covering several camps, and they partner with us by donating funds toward reliable patrol vehicles.

One of our latest vehicles, a 2024 Ford F-150 STX, was purchased with the help of Alpine Camp, Camp Skyline, Riverview Camp, Camp DeSoto, and Camp Laney. I cannot thank them enough for their partnership and generosity.

I would also like to thank Mayor Rob Hammond and the Town Council for being good stewards of public monies and helping fund this and another truck of the same make and model through a general fund expenditure.

Lastly, I want to thank Assistant Police Chief Mike Langston, who got the town enrolled in the 1033 program that allows law enforcement agencies to apply for surplus military vehicles. If awarded, you can sell these military vehicles after a year and keep the money for the town. We were successful in some awards, and money from those vehicle sales also went toward the purchase of our two new trucks.

This is another example of how our community comes together to help one another. As someone who worked for a summer camp for several years, I have a deep appreciation for what they mean to the Mentone area. And, again, a big “thank you” to the mayor, council, and my assistant chief for their support and efforts.