41 Police Cars Set to Be Repossessed as Ohio Sheriff’s Office Defaults on Loans
How can police officers respond to calls without their squad cars? This is a problem a Sheriff’s office in Ohio could face as 41 police cars are set to be repossessed. According to reports, the office allegedly failed to make lease payments to Enterprise, thereby breaching its contract.
41 police cars could be repossessed from Ohio sheriff’s office
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio could be without police cars. The risk of having 41 police interceptors repossessed is so serious that officers have begun removing their equipment from the vehicles to prepare for Enterprise to take them back.
According to News 5 Cleveland, the Lorain County commissioners have defaulted on car loans with Enterprise Fleet Management. Commissioners haven’t paid $57,000 in lease payments to the Enterprise as part of the contract.
However, the commissioners claim that the sheriff’s office is responsible for its own contract. Meanwhile, Lorain County Sheriff Jack Hall blames commissioners for cutting budgets. Hall claims the allotted amount for cruisers was cut.
The sheriff’s office shares that police officers want to do the best they can. But they need the police cars for managing traffic and responding to emergency situations to keep residents safe.
Allegedly, the sheriff’s office has $346,000 in the equipment lease account. The Lorain County Board of Commissioners approved the Sheriff’s 2025 annual budget on December 19, 2026.
The vehicles are set to be repossessed if Enterprise isn’t paid by February 9, 2026. Also, commissioners shared that the sheriff’s office didn’t pay for a $13,583.81 invoice, prompting an automated default notice.
If the loans aren’t paid, Hall plans to make sure shifts are covered so deputies can respond to calls. The dysfunction within the local government is clearly hurting residents.
