Walton County, GA — The Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) has added a new armored personnel carrier (APC) to its fleet, thanks in part to a major contribution from the Walton County Health Care Foundation.

 

The vehicle, which cost more than $300,000, was made possible through a $150,000 grant from the foundation. The remaining funds came from the sheriff’s office special tax fund, not county tax dollars.

Ben Garrett, executive director of the foundation, said the donation fit squarely within its mission.

“The foundation is dedicated to health care and public safety,” Garrett explained. “From time to time, we do things with local law enforcement and this was a perfect opportunity to give back to that part of our mission.”

 

Sheriff Keith Brooks said the new APC fills a critical gap left years earlier when the office’s previous armored vehicle was removed during a federal effort to reduce what was labeled the “militarization of police.”
“We had an APC but when the feds decided to reduce what they called the militarization of police, they removed it,” Brooks said. “It really handcuffed us to lose that. Sheriff Chapman felt the loss keenly and ordered a new APC to replace the one the government took from us.”

 

Although former Sheriff Joe Chapman initiated the purchase before leaving office, the vehicle took nearly two years to build and was only recently delivered.

“I’m sorry he wasn’t able to take possession while he was still sheriff, but we’re grateful to his foresight in acquiring this vehicle today,” Brooks noted.

 

The sheriff emphasized that the foundation’s grant and the office’s special tax fund covered the cost, ensuring local taxpayers were not directly impacted. Under a new state program, residents can choose to allocate a portion of their taxes directly to law enforcement, helping fund resources like the APC without pulling from county budgets.

Brooks called the investment invaluable for both deputies and the public.

“It’s a piece of equipment that will benefit our deputies and the community as a whole,” he said. “When we had the previous vehicle, we were able to use it to defuse siege situations with armed suspects, and now we can do that again without putting deputies in the line of fire. It’ll serve us for a long time to come.”

 

Garrett added that the foundation was proud to help.
“It’s in the best interests of the public,” he said.