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Public auction w/ police gear
Criminals hoping to impersonate police officers could outfit their cars with lights and sirens purchased for hundreds of dollars from any number of online dealers.
But the gear also is available for as a little as $26 from a vendor even closer to home — Harris County.
Three light bars from atop police cars, a box of strobe lights and an assortment of siren amps and speakers are up for bid at the county's online auction site, with pickup available at a warehouse on the city's east side. As of Friday afternoon, the light bars were up to $26 and $27, while the siren amps had fetched a bid of $152.50.
County officials acknowledge the equipment could fall into the wrong hands, but say selling it benefits taxpayers and the volunteer firefighters and small-town police departments that typically buy the emergency items. Junking the gear would be wasteful since similar equipment, along with phony badges, patches and clothing, is available elsewhere, they said.
'Available to anybody'
"All of that type of equipment is available to anybody who wants to buy it," said Commissioner Steve Radack, a former police officer and constable. " ... I can't see throwing them away if you can sell them for something."
County Purchasing Agent Jack McCown, who oversees the auction of surplus items, said officials have considered restricting the sale of police equipment, but could not find a viable way to do that. Such equipment comes up for auction several times a year, he said. This online auction began Aug. 18 and is set to end Monday.
Online auction giant eBay prohibits the sale of police-related items such as emergency lights and sirens, uniforms or badges. Light bars for sale on Friday on the site came in amber and white, not red, white and blue like Harris County's. However, official-looking police department patches described as collectors' items were available.
Some phony business
Houston-area police have reported several incidents involving phony officers in recent years. A man impersonating a police officer pulled over a teenaged boy near Alvin in July, according to KTRK-TV. Although no harm came from that incident, a police impersonator fondled a woman after pulling her over in 2000 on U.S. 59 near the town of Beasley.
Radack himself was pulled over by a fake cop in the early 1990s. He called the real authorities and had the man arrested after he presented a tattered badge. Still, he said the bigger problem is the sale of used police vehicles, especially the distinctive blue cars the Houston Police Department used to drive.
Police vehicles generally are stripped of equipment and the decals and lettering are removed.
Keith Branner, the county's fleet services director, said the light bars generally are in working or repairable condition when put up for auction. He did not have information about the condition of the sirens.
Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy David Crain said the department had no problem with the county auctions since the products are readily available. Anyone can attach lights and sirens to his vehicle, he added, but it is illegal to turn them on.
But the gear also is available for as a little as $26 from a vendor even closer to home — Harris County.
Three light bars from atop police cars, a box of strobe lights and an assortment of siren amps and speakers are up for bid at the county's online auction site, with pickup available at a warehouse on the city's east side. As of Friday afternoon, the light bars were up to $26 and $27, while the siren amps had fetched a bid of $152.50.
County officials acknowledge the equipment could fall into the wrong hands, but say selling it benefits taxpayers and the volunteer firefighters and small-town police departments that typically buy the emergency items. Junking the gear would be wasteful since similar equipment, along with phony badges, patches and clothing, is available elsewhere, they said.
'Available to anybody'
"All of that type of equipment is available to anybody who wants to buy it," said Commissioner Steve Radack, a former police officer and constable. " ... I can't see throwing them away if you can sell them for something."
County Purchasing Agent Jack McCown, who oversees the auction of surplus items, said officials have considered restricting the sale of police equipment, but could not find a viable way to do that. Such equipment comes up for auction several times a year, he said. This online auction began Aug. 18 and is set to end Monday.
Online auction giant eBay prohibits the sale of police-related items such as emergency lights and sirens, uniforms or badges. Light bars for sale on Friday on the site came in amber and white, not red, white and blue like Harris County's. However, official-looking police department patches described as collectors' items were available.
Some phony business
Houston-area police have reported several incidents involving phony officers in recent years. A man impersonating a police officer pulled over a teenaged boy near Alvin in July, according to KTRK-TV. Although no harm came from that incident, a police impersonator fondled a woman after pulling her over in 2000 on U.S. 59 near the town of Beasley.
Radack himself was pulled over by a fake cop in the early 1990s. He called the real authorities and had the man arrested after he presented a tattered badge. Still, he said the bigger problem is the sale of used police vehicles, especially the distinctive blue cars the Houston Police Department used to drive.
Police vehicles generally are stripped of equipment and the decals and lettering are removed.
Keith Branner, the county's fleet services director, said the light bars generally are in working or repairable condition when put up for auction. He did not have information about the condition of the sirens.
Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy David Crain said the department had no problem with the county auctions since the products are readily available. Anyone can attach lights and sirens to his vehicle, he added, but it is illegal to turn them on.
What about all this homeland security stuff.
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