First respondersWest Virginia lottery winner donates $1 million to local police and fire departments
After winning the lottery, a West Virginia resident has donated nearly $1 million to local police and fire departments; last Thursday, W. Randy Smith purchased six Ford F-350 pickup trucks equipped with snow plows and snow blowers for six fire departments in Berkeley County; Smith says he decided to purchase the vehicles after severe winter storms last year left many emergency vehicles unable to reach their destinations; Smith’s generosity comes after winning nearly $80 million last August in the Powerball lottery; Smith has also made several other donations including new four wheel drive ambulances for the Hedgesville and Baker Heights fire departments which cost $280,000
After winning the lottery, a West Virginia resident has donated nearly $1 million to local police and fire departments.
Smith says he decided to purchase the vehicles after severe winter storms last year left many emergency vehicles unable to reach their destinations.
“I remember last year’s blizzards. I was stuck at home like everybody else, and I had my scanner on. Emergency crews were not able to get through the snow,” Smith said.
Smith’s generosity comes after winning nearly $80 million last August in the Powerball lottery. Choosing a lump-sum payment, Smith ended up with $44 million before taxes.
Ed Gochenour, the deputy director of Berkeley County’s Emergency Management, was quite pleased with Smith’s donation.
Gochenour said that in addition to using the new vehicles for the snow, the trucks can be used as substitutes in emergencies when large trucks are not needed like in cleaning up fuel spills or battling brush fires.
Smith has also made several other donations including a new four wheel drive ambulances for the Hedgesville and Baker Heights fire departments which cost $280,000.
In addition, Smith announced at the ceremony dedicating the six new snow plows that he plans to spend $220,000 to purchase an armored personnel carrier for SWAT teams.
The vehicle can be used to help rescue victims in hostage situations or in a firing zone.
“It’s a military-based vehicle capable of surviving a 50-caliber round,” Smith said.
While the armored personnel carrier will be based in Berkeley County, the unit can be used by any department in the state as it will be the only one of its kind in West Virginia.
Smith’s donations have also gone towards the purchase of a $150,000 mobile forensic law enforcement unit which preserves and transports evidence from crime scenes to various departments across West Virginia.
The Martinsburg City Police Department has also been awarded $100,000 to purchase a live-scan fingerprinting system and make improvements to its firing range.
Smith, who served for twelve years as a Berkeley County deputy sheriff, said, “I wish we had some of these things when I was in the sheriff’s department.”
Prior to winning the lottery, Smith served as a Berkeley County magistrate, and prior to that he served as the twice elected sheriff of Berkeley County.
