Former, longtime law enforcement official Robert Scattini got
accustomed to his Ford Crown Victoria marked by insignia conveying
the San Benito County Marshal’s Office.
Former, longtime law enforcement official Robert Scattini got accustomed to his Ford Crown Victoria marked by insignia conveying the San Benito County Marshal’s Office.
About two months removed from the office’s closure, though, it appears Scattini misses his old vehicle. During a recent board meeting, Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz made a special request that the county sell the old marshal’s office car to Scattini.
The office closed at the end of December. Scattini has moved on to open a private process serving business – and carries out similar duties as during his 22 years as the county marshal. He also recently started serving a term on the Hollister council in December, after stepping down from his role as planning commissioner in De La Cruz’s District 5.
During the board meeting, the marshal’s office car came up because it was on a list of surplus items to be sold. Public works official Steve Wittry had noted how the county customarily sends its vehicles to Fresno for auction.
San Benito generally auctions off other surplus equipment, such as file cabinets, at the local yard. But the county auctions vehicles in Fresno because the return is higher there. Fresno County also ensures that any law enforcement insignia is removed, an added benefit, Wittry said.
After De La Cruz asked about selling it to Scattini, County Counsel Matthew Granger noted how it would require a change to a county policy. De La Cruz responded by pointing out how the county in the past has donated a bus to a local school without it being approved according to the ordinance regulating sales of surplus items.
Supervisors agreed to hold off on the matter and talk about it again at a later meeting.
