Downstate county defaults on 5 of its patrol cars

CAIRO -- The sheriff of cash-strapped Alexander County in deep southern Illinois says his crime-fighting efforts won't be deterred by the fact that he's recently lost three-quarters of his staff and five patrol cars.

David Barkett's job got a bit tougher Tuesday when his department surrendered the patrol cars to First National Bank in Cairo because of nonpayment.

That left Barkett's force with just one county-owned car. But he got some help Tuesday when he met with federal and state officials in Springfield and brought back a government-surplus 2004 Ford SUV to keep.

Barkett expects more donated vehicles to be headed his department's way.

Barkett's department recently laid off 11 employees, or three-quarters of its work force, because of budget restraints. Ten of those displaced workers were deputies.