AULANDER – The program is known as ADM Cares.

Judging by their recent actions, the program’s name is very appropriate.

The Town of Aulander, specifically its Police Department, is the recipient of a grant from Golden Peanut (a wholly owned subsidiary of ADM: Archer-Daniels-Midland, a worldwide agribusiness company headquartered in Decatur, Illinois). The funds will allow the town to purchase two computers and printers, complete with all the peripheral devices, for use in Aulander Police Department vehicles.

“Golden Peanut was kind enough to give us, the town and the police department, a grant to purchase two laptop computers, printers, the mobile ‘hot spot’ cards….the whole nine yards…to install in our police vehicles,” said Aulander Police Chief Jimmy Barmer.

Barmer said such technology basically transforms those vehicles into a “police office on wheels.”

“It saves us time and gas in having to drive back and forth to Windsor just to turn in the tickets/citations to the Clerk of Court’s office,” Barmer noted. “Now we file them as e-citations (electronically) to the Clerk’s office.”

The system also adds a layer of safety for the police officer operating the computer.

“When we make a vehicle stop and run the tag (enter the license number), we quickly receive information about the owner, to include if they have an outstanding warrant for arrest; if they are listed as AWC (Approach With Caution); or if they have a concealed carry (gun) permit,” Barmer said. “It let’s us know all that information before we get out of our vehicle.”

Barmer stated that part-time Aulander Police Officer Justin Farmer (a full-time Sergeant with the Ahoskie PD) is highly skilled in using such equipment.

“They already have that technology in Ahoskie, so Justin is very familiar with it,” Barmer said. “Whatever can be done from behind a desk can now be done in the car.”

Another safety component of the in-car computer is that it reduces the need to use the police radio to communicate with Bertie County dispatchers in the Sheriff’s Office in Windsor.

“So many people now have police scanners at home; they often know what’s going on before we can arrive at a call,” Barmer stressed. “Using the computer to communicate lessens the likelihood of a suspect we’re looking for hearing that we’re on the way to his or her residence, thus giving them a chance to flee before we get there.”

Barmer said he appreciates ADM’s support of the Aulander community.

Brett Thomas, plant manager of Golden Peanut in Aulander, said the grant was part of ADM Cares, a program that works to sustain and strengthen the company’s commitment of agriculture, and its stakeholders, colleagues and communities by directing funding to initiatives and organizations around the world that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress.

“ADM Cares gives us the opportunity to give back to the local community,” Thomas said. “The majority of those who work at our Aulander facility live within 10 to 15 miles from here. This grant benefits, in some way or the other, those who work at our plant as well as the entirety of Aulander residents.”

“I really like the ADM Cares program because it gives us a chance to give back to the community in which we do business,” said Kevin Stinson, Golden Peanut Plant Manager.

Barmer offered praise to Aulander Town Council member Bobbie Parker and Town Clerk Johnna Browne for spearheading the grant writing project.

“Bobbie made sure all the verbage was correct in the grant and Johnna kept me up to date via emails on the progress of the grant application,” Barmer stated.

The grant application submitted by Aulander officials said, “With computer equipped vehicles, we can perform this task and greatly reduce response time and increase safety and security of our officers and citizens. This was not an anticipated expense when we prepared our budget so we do not currently have budgeted funds for this request. This (grant request) aligns with ADM`s Strong Communities philosophy to improve the quality of life in our communities today as we create a better future tomorrow. It will provide a safer working environment for our officers as they work to better serve the citizens of the Town of Aulander.”

“We are extremely proud of our local police department and the job they do for our citizens,” stated Parker. “Our police department took the initiative to seek out this type of equipment and the money to fund its purchase. We are appreciative to Golden Peanut for being a great community partner.”

“We really appreciate Golden Peanut; we work on an extremely tight budget so this grant allows us to upgrade the technology of our police department,” said Town Councilman Ron Poppell.

Hertford County Deputy Tom Helms, also a part-time Aulander Police Officer, joined with Farmer to select the computers and needed components (within the budget of the grant) and then the duo installed the equipment in the vehicles, thus saving the town several hundred dollars in installation costs.

Golden Peanut has been a part of the Aulander community since 1984. Prior to that it was Planters Peanuts, established in 1973.