Kiowa County Sheriff Casey Sheridan announced Thursday that a prisoner transport van had been donated to his agency earlier in the month.

The van was donated by Prowers County Sheriff Sam Zordel.

Sheridan said he was “sincerely grateful to Sheriff Zordel for this generous donation.”

A recent increase in criminal court cases had required the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office to borrow the van from Prowers county, or face using multiple Kiowa county vehicles and deputies when there was a need to transport three or more prisoners to jail or court appearances.

Assigning several deputies from an already limited staff to transport inmates places a strain on the agency’s coverage and service to the county, and increases costs.

Pictured: Prowers County Sheriff Sam Zordel (left) and Kiowa County Sheriff Casey Sheridan.