The Lake County Board of Commissioners approved a sheriff’s department request to upfit a SWAT Unit van in a 2-1 vote Wednesday.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department requested a 2024 Ford Transit Cargo Van in its SWAT Unit to be upfitted by Tillman’s Vehicle Accessories for $67,360.79. The other quotes that came in were from 10-75 Emergency Vehicles for $77,316 Summit Bodyworks for $129,000, and EVI for $148,249.

Board president Commissioner Mike Repay, D-3rd, said he voted against the upfit because when the commissioners approved the purchase of the van the sheriff’s department did not make clear it would spend more money to upfit the vehicle.

“It’s a lack of honesty with the Board of Commissioners with what their plan is for their asset,” Repay said.

Repay also expressed his concern with the sheriff’s department over emphasizing specialties by purchasing SWAT-style vehicles, boats and ATVs.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez told the Post-Tribune upfitting the vehicle will allow the department to better serve the 18 communities in its jurisdiction.

With final board approval, Martinez said he’s “optimistic” that the vehicle will be operational by the fall. The funding for the upfitting will be paid for with recovered drug money awarded to the sheriff’s department by the courts, Martinez said.

Martinez previously said the vehicle was purchased in January 2024 for $74,000. The van will assist the department’s operations division with law enforcement and search and rescue operations, as well as a standalone vehicle for transport, communications and coordination, Martinez said.

In a May letter to the commissioners, Martinez wrote the vehicle should be upfitted to enhance officer safety, like protective lighting to improve personnel security, and boost operational efficiency, like its equipment with communication systems to help with coordinated responses.

Additionally, the upfitted vehicle would strengthen community trust by displaying the department’s “commitment to preparedness, enhancing public confidence,” Martinez said.

Upfitting the vehicle would also increase its long-term value by reducing the need for future maintenance costs and extend its service life, he said.

“This asset is essential to enhancing the Lake County Sheriff’s Department tactical response capabilities, ensuring officer safety, and strengthening community security during high-risk operations,” Martinez wrote in the commissioner’s letter.

When asked by the Post-Tribune, Martinez said the department has “several” special operations vehicles dedicated for specialized use, and many are marked, armored units. The vehicles are used to support ground, marine and aviation units, Martinez said, as well as to coordinate internal communications and operations with outside agencies during emergencies and special operations, like search warrants and barricaded individuals.

“Our current fleet lacks a vehicle with these advanced tactical features, limiting our ability to respond effectively to incidents such as hostage situations, active shooter events or barricaded suspects,” Martinez wrote in the commissioner’s letter.

So far in 2025, the Lake County SWAT team has executed more than 25 high-risk operations across Lake County, including search warrants and felony arrests, Martinez said.

“This upfitting will allow us to provide our tactical officers with a specially-equipped vehicle that can aid us in executing these operations safely and effectively,” Martinez said. “This unmarked vehicle will allow us to conduct pre-operation surveillance and arrive at target destinations without attracting attention, which can be crucial in situations where countersurveillance may be a concern.”

akukulka@post-trib.com