CARMEL – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department will soon add two new motorcycles and a specialized vehicle for transporting inmates to and from the county jail, following action by the Putnam Legislature.
The motorcycles replacing two aging Harley-Davidsons, will be bought with $65,000 in seized asset funds, and used for traffic enforcement, special events and parades, emergency traffic control, and improved mobility in congested areas.
The purchase of the transport vehicle estimated to cost $100,000 results from a jail grant from the Dormitory Authority of New York.
Legislator Tommy Regan, who introduced the measure at this month’s regular monthly meeting, stressed that the purchases will have no fiscal impact on the sheriff’s department 2026 and 2027 budgets.
The sheriff also received permission from the lawmakers to submit two grant applications — the first to the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office Community Policing Development Microgrant program to support a Hudson River Drone First Responder Marine Patrol Rescue Pilot that would enhance the sheriff’s department’s ability with water rescues.
The unanimous approval of the governing body allows the sheriff to apply for a $500,000 State Criminal Justice Services grant to purchase public safety technology equipment including security cameras, license plate readers and other technology infrastructure.
The grant does not require matching funds.
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