Local store helps LPD with new equipment

By Anna Rochelle WALMART'S $5,000 DONATION: Linton Police Department Patrolman Karl Jacobshagen prepares to upload images from his new Canon PowerShot digital camera to a new Dell computer in the department's squad room. Thanks to a $5,000 donation to the LPD from the Linton WalMart Supercenter, all Linton officers are now carrying new digital cameras and new police radios are on the way. [Order this photo]

Store Manager Jason Wells said the store received the money from the WalMart Corporation to give back to the community. The corporation gives grants from the home office to the stores and then the store makes the decision about where to donate the money.

"Anytime we can give back to the community, it's the right thing to do," said Wells.

By Anna Rochelle THE RIGHT THING TO DO: With a $5,000 donation from the Linton WalMart Supercenter, Police Chief Troy Jerrell (left) was able to purchase new digital cameras for Linton's patrol officers, a new computer and printer for their squad room and order new police radios. WalMart Store Manager Jason Wells (right) said anytime WalMart can give back to the community, it's the right thing to do. [Order this photo]

Wells said the decision to make a donation to the Linton Police Department was an easy one.

"They let us know what they were needing -- they were using old and outdated equipment," said Wells.

Police Chief Troy Jerrell said the store's donation was a big one and was welcomed by every member of the department.

"I can't say enough about this -- we are very grateful for this donation from WalMart. With $5,000, we've been able to order replacements for some old radios that I was afraid would not last much longer, and we've bought other needed equipment. Our officers were really needing digital cameras and now every patrolman is carrying a new Canon Power Shot digital camera," said Jerrell.

In addition to the digital cameras for the patrolmen, the department also purchased a larger and more feature-rich Canon Rebel digital camera for the department's Crime Scene Investigator, plus a full range of accessories for all of the cameras. In addition to the computer for the squad room, they also purchased a new printer. The radios are on order and will arrive at a later date.