Sheriff shares surplus computers with VFD

The Grady County Sheriff’s Office donated several computers to the local volunteer fire department Tuesday. The computers are surplus military equipment acquired by the sheriff’s office recently.  
Sheriff Harry Young says he saw an opportunity to help the volunteer fire department and simultaneously save Grady County money by obtaining 10 military surplus computers.
These computers no longer served the purposes of the military, but work perfectly well for the needs of the firefighters, according to the sheriff.
As Sheriff, Young has the ability to attain excess equipment from military bases and redistribute it at his discretion for the benefit of the county.
Reprogrammed by Blough Tech, the computers will be used by firefighters for keeping track of inventory, as well as some good, old-fashioned web surfing.
According to Volunteer Fire Department Coordinator Wayne Hadden, the volunteer fire department will use the computers “the same as anybody else uses the computer: mostly information.”
Unlike the majority of Internet surfers, however, the firefighters will use their new computers to stay up to date with the latest training techniques and information that can be put to use serving the citizens of Grady County.
“Our firefighters, they’re part of us,” states Sheriff Young; “firefighters are very important to us as law enforcement.”
Young says he considers their role as police backup and as first responders to be extremely beneficial to the community and seemed confident that the redistributed technology will be put to excellent use.
In addition to the 10 desktop computers, a set of laptops may be acquired for the benefit of the county in the near future.