WINONA – Residents will be seeing a different-type of police cruiser patrolling Winona. The 1991 Chevrolet Camaro, 25th Anniversary edition, was added to the Winona Police Department’s fleet to catch the attention of young people as much as to catch illegal activity.
“We were trying to figure a way to draw young kids to the police so they will know not all police officers are bad,” said Winona Chief of Police Tommy Bibbs. “To bring kids and the general public closer to the police department is a top priority.”
Bibbs said he came up with the idea to outfit a unique patrol car a few years ago and discussed it with several members of the Winona Board of Aldermen. He found the car in a tow yard in Greenwood, and checked with the Mississippi Ethics Commission before he moved forward with his plan.
“[The Ethics Commission] gave their go-ahead, and they said they thought more police departments should do this in the nation and especially in the State of Mississippi,” Bibbs said.
Bibbs said Michael Joe Cannon at Cannon Motors in Greenwood and Jimmy Ware at J&S Tire and Lube in Winona donated their services to help get the car in service, and Chris Branch, instructor of the automotive department at Winona Career and Technical Center, and his students got the car running.
“[Branch] and the kids, I want to thank them for what they contributed,” Bibbs said.
Bibbs reached out to his Mark Clark at Midsouth Communications, and he donated his services to install the communication devices in the car. Ginger and Freddie Wolfe at Better Signs in Grenada donated the striping kit.
“I reached out to more citizens, and they all thought it was a good idea,” Bibbs said.
Mickey Roberts with the Winona Branch of Bank of Kilmichael chipped in, and Weed Brothers Body Shop agreed to paint the vehicle as a donation. NAPA and Auto Zone also contributed to the project.
“You would be amazed at how many people want to be a part of something that is going to help the community,” Bibbs said. “There are more people in the community who support the police than you know. I had an overwhelming response from the community – private citizens and businesses.”
Bibbs said he and Otis T. Robinson worked on the vehicle in his own garage to cut down on the expense to fix it up. And thanks to Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker and Warden Brandon Smith, some work was provided by inmates at the Carroll-Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility.
Vaiden Alderman Theodore Purnell tinted the windows on the vehicle.
“It was done as cheaply as possible,” Bibbs said. “Everyone played an important part in making this project come together. If we can save one kid from drinking and driving or doing drugs, then it is worth way more than the amount the city could have spent on this car.”
Bibbs said the car is an actual working police vehicle. Officers driving the car can write tickets and patrol the community.
Bibbs said the new police cruiser has already drawn the eye of some young people in the community. A group of children playing basketball stopped their game to look at the car.
“I talked to the school resource officers, and we have started the process of getting our own [Students Against Drunk Driving] program in the school system,” Bibbs said. “We are working to get our own chapter. The closest SADD program to us is in Batesville, and there is a DARE program in Meridian.
