Carl E. Amerson, Jr., Fleet Maintenance Manager
(772) 220-7093
(772) 220-7094 Fax
camerson@sheriff.martin.fl.us

Joseph Sesta, Assistant Fleet Maintenance Manager
jsesta@sheriff.martin.fl.us

Martin County Sheriff’s Office vehicles log over five million miles of travel on our local streets and highways in one year.  The vehicles are maintained by the Fleet Maintenance Unit and managed by Carl E. Amerson, Jr. and Assistant Manager/Mechanic, Joseph Sesta.  The unit employs two mechanics, Michael Gauroniak and Frank Crugliano; Delores King, secretary; Robert Hitchcock, paint and body technician; Stanley Waite, radio/equipment installation technician and part-time employee David Nunley.

Fleet Maintenance is responsible for maintaining and servicing all motor vehicles used by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. By providing in-house maintenance on the Agency’s fleet, this unit is able to accomplish specialized vehicle service at a fraction of the cost of contracted vendors.  This helps keep costs minimal to taxpayers and helps to ensure the safety of the Deputies of Martin County.  As of March, 2012, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has a fleet of 357 cars.  A mechanic is always on-call. Mr. Amerson and Mr. Sesta work to ensure vehicles are in perfect operational order on a daily basis.  Maintenance and trouble-shooting is an on-going process for Fleet Maintenance. The Fleet Maintenance Unit has been in service at the Martin County Sheriff’s Office since 1985. At that time, there were a total of 80 vehicles in service.  As the number of vehicles in the fleet has grown over the years, so too have the responsibilities and the number of employees necessary to complete the job.  Personnel are able to stay up-to-date ever-changing technology with the training that is provided.

This dragoon is just one of the different vehicles Fleet Maintenance maintains. The dragoon is used for emergency rescues. Above, Captain Mike McKinnley and Sgt. George Herschaft operate the Sheriff's Dragoon.

Fleet Maintenance employees stand-by and assist during hazardous weather conditions such as floods and hurricanes.  This Unit is essential to the safety of the public and employees of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office during these tragic times.  Mother Nature brings challenges. The Fleet Maintenance Unit is proud to be part of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and knowing we take part in helping citizens of our county.

Sheriff Crowder was presented with the very first "E-Visionary" award by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas.

Included in the fleet are two Command Posts, a Special Operations Unit, two motorcycles, a dragoon, a peace-keeper and one Army truck used for emergency operations. We also have 10 hybrid vehicles to defray fuel costs. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office has completed construction on a new building for the lift area.  The building consists of 10 bays with four lifts and all the necessary equipment for required maintenance to all vehicles currently in service to the community.  An annual auction is held to dispose of high mileage vehicles and forfeitures. The monies go back into the Sheriff’s Office budget to purchase more vehicles and to save tax money for the people of Martin County.

In December of 2001, Sheriff Robert L. Crowder led the way and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office became the first Law Enforcement Agency in the nation to implement the use of fuel efficient “duel energy” vehicles.  Sheriff Crowder added 24 Hybrid cars to the fleet.  Hybrids are powered by a small, highly efficient gas engine and an advanced electric motor.  One or both are used to minimize emissions.  Hybrid’s batteries are not plugged in; braking energy is captured and used to recharge the batteries.  They are not used as pursuit vehicles or first responders.  They are currently in use by the Civil Unit, Parking Enforcement, Administration, Investigations and the Chaplain. Sheriff Crowder has been interviewed and featured extensively by the national media including The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, The New York Times, American Police Beat, Law and Order Magazine and the Swiss press.  In December 2002, Sheriff Crowder was presented with the very first “E-Visionary” award by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas.  This award recognizes individuals who show leadership and vision in helping to transition the transportation sector to the use of clean, efficient electric drive technologies.