Lorain County Commissioners Deny Cruiser Repossession Claims, Say Sheriff’s Office Responsible for Fleet Payments
LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio — The Lorain County Board of Commissioners has issued a formal response disputing claims that dozens of patrol vehicles assigned to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office were at risk of repossession, calling the allegations a “manufactured crisis” fueled by false information.
In a note to the media released by the Lorain County Board of Commissioners, Commissioners Marty Gallagher, David J. Moore and Jeff Riddell said recent assertions by the Lorain County Deputies Association — which warned that 41 cruisers could be repossessed due to a default on fleet lease payments — are inaccurate.
The commissioners stated that after learning of the claims, County Deputy Administrator Karen Perkins contacted Enterprise Fleet Management directly and confirmed that the vehicles were not scheduled for repossession and never had been.
According to the commissioners’ release, responsibility for managing and paying invoices for the Sheriff’s Office — including fleet leases — rests with the elected sheriff, not the board. The statement said the Sheriff’s Office failed to pay the full amount of a $13,583.81 invoice by December 2025, which triggered an automated notice of default sent to the Sheriff’s Department.
“The Board of Commissioners approved the Sheriff’s 2026 annual budget on December 19, 2025,” the release states, adding that the sheriff currently has approximately $346,000 available in his equipment lease account.
The response comes after the Lorain County Deputies Association issued a sharply worded press release earlier this week alleging that the commissioners had failed to pay more than $57,000 under a fleet lease agreement, placing dozens of patrol vehicles at risk. The association claimed deputies had already begun removing equipment and personal gear from cruisers in anticipation of repossession and questioned how the Sheriff’s Office could continue responding to calls without vehicles.
“How is the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office expected to respond to calls with no cruisers?” the association asked in its statement, which accused county leadership of prioritizing politics over public safety. The release concluded with a sarcastic postscript: “PS. Does anyone have contact details for Uber?”
At the time that initial story was published, no official response had been released by the commissioners. The new statement seeks to directly counter those claims and reassure residents that public safety services are not in jeopardy.
“The Lorain County Board of Commissioners remains committed to ensuring residents can have confidence in the continuity of essential public safety services and in the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” the release states.
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
