A fully-equipped Dodge Charger joined the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office fleet after Deputy Chief Egon Grissom won the car at the annual Tennessee LifeSavers Conference last week in Murfreesboro.

The sheriff’s office became eligible to receive the Dodge after Sgt. Michael Rodgers submitted a comprehensive challenge book to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. The book details the Sheriff’s Office’s traffic safety efforts through enforcement, education, training and policies.

THSO selected 10 contestants to choose a key for the car. The key Grissom selected started the car.

Rodgers will drive the Dodge Charger as his patrol vehicle. 

“I am very excited to have won the vehicle,” Rodgers said. “I’m excited that it is marked with THSO and I hope it sparks interest within the community, so I can talk about how the state is helping the sheriff’s office with highway safety.”

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh thanked Blue Line Innovations and sponsors for supporting THSO and its member agencies.

“The car will be used in the furtherance of our traffic safety programs,” Fitzhugh said.

CEO and Founder Mark Hutchinson of Blue Line Solutions in Chattanooga donated the Dodge with equipment from other vendors.

Among other equipment installed in the vehicle is the Sentinel 360°, the world’s first 360° in-car law enforcement camera.

“Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office has demonstrated its commitment to traffic safety by the awards that they have received,” Hutchinson said. “Blue Line Innovations is also committed to serving law enforcement with better video using 360° technology. I am excited that Rutherford County will be able to utilize this vehicle in the furtherance of their traffic safety programs.”

Other vendors include Panasonic, Stalker, SoundOff Signal, Truckers Lighthouse, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police.

Photo: CEO and Founder Mark Hutchinson of Blue Line Solutions, left, presents the keys to a new Dodge Challenger to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Egon Grissom.