Coxsackie Business Owner Donates ATV for Search and Rescue Operatons to Schoharie County Sheriffs Department

After hearing the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office Tactical and Rescue Force was in need of an all-terrain vehicle, even being asked to donate an older model by members of the all volunteer force, Chris Gerken of Matt's Cycle Center in Coxsackie decided to take action and assist the still rebuilding Sheriff's department.

Working through Kawasaki's Law Enforcement Motor Vehicle program, Mr. Gerken was able to acquire a four wheel drive, side by side 2013 Kawasaki T-Rex for the Department, which presented their new vehicle to members of the press yesterday afternoon at the county's Public Safety Facility in Schoharie.

Commenting that the "Sheriff's Office Tactical and Rescue Force is an unpaid group of volunteers which provide services to Schoharie County and it's residents on a regular basis," Sheriff Desmond focused on the hard work that the force does by listing traffic and crowd control at public events such as parades, field day celebrations and the County Fair as every day examples of their valuable efforts. He would go on to add that they "also assist in searches for lost, missing or injured people," and that he was "extremely thankful for all that they do."

Members of the Schoharie County Tactical and Rescue Force, who were on hand for the press conference and were described as a "well trained group who are always willing to respond and assist in any emergency," by Sheriff Desmond, praised the donation - saying that it would be used for "search and rescue operations," and that it was "designed for rural communities." Also on hand was John Stiles of the Department of Public Works Sign Maintenance Division, who designed the vehicle's colorful decals.