Storey County Sheriff’s Office Gets a Speedy Boost in the Race for Road Safety

The good folks of Storey County can rest a little easier—or at least drive a little straighter—thanks to a generous donation from local business owners Thomas and Deborah Hayward. In an act of goodwill that would put a Sunday preacher to shame, the couple handed over the keys to an all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger that will bring a little muscle to the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing battle against reckless driving.

Deputy David Ranson, head of the department’s STEER Unit (Safe Traffic Education and Enforcement Response), accepted the donation with the kind of enthusiasm one reserves for Christmas morning.

“The Dodge Challenger SXT was a wish list item for our traffic enforcement team,” Ranson said, suppressing a grin at the thought of patrolling the streets in a machine built for speed and safety. “Its all-wheel-drive capability and excellent safety ratings make it a critical tool for addressing traffic infractions and improving road safety in all weather conditions.”

The STEER Unit, dedicated to keeping Storey County’s roads as safe as a church picnic, will outfit the vehicle like a patrol car and use it for traffic enforcement, education, and community outreach events. In other words, lead-footed drivers will soon find themselves face to face with the long arm of the law—now backed by a powerful engine.

Deborah Hayward, speaking on behalf of the generous duo, explained their motives in plain terms: “We believe in giving back to the community that supports us, and we are honored to donate this vehicle as a token of our gratitude for the dedication and sacrifice of our first responders. We hope this contribution helps them continue their vital work.”

With this addition to its fleet, the STEER Unit plans to curb reckless driving and create goodwill between law enforcement and the community. The Sheriff’s Office has long been grappling with traffic-related incidents, and this new tool might just put a dent in those statistics.

Of course, the ultimate goal remains the grandest of all–zero fatalities. It’s a lofty ambition, to be sure, but one the department holds fast to.

And if nothing else, seeing a Dodge Challenger in the rearview mirror might just be enough to make even the most reckless driver think twice before pressing their luck.