“That’s not something you hear about all the time,” says Capt. Scott Stovall of the East Spencer Police Department.

But that’s what patrol officer Norman Garren has done in East Spencer. Garren, a former reserve who became a full-time officer about a month ago, gave his sporty, black 1987 IROC Z Camaro to the town.

There are no strings attached, except that the vehicle has been assigned to Garren as his patrol car.

“He brought the idea to me,” recalls Stovall. “We were talking about adding another vehicle to the fleet, and he told me what he was willing to do.”

The officers fashioned a letter to the East Spencer Board of Aldermen, explained the offer and found ready acceptance.

The department used state money allocated from drug seizures to paint the Camaro and add blue lights, stripes, decals and a siren. The car is insured through the town and titled to the town.

“It’s a patrol car, and he drives it just for that purpose,” Stovall says.

Police Chief Perry Hogan says a new Crown Victoria with a police equipment package would have cost East Spencer $21,500. Stovall estimates that Garren’s Camaro is probably worth at least $5,000 to the town.

Garren’s donation allows the department to have a patrol car for every officer.

“Plus, too, the image that it projects is important, and the kids love it,” Stovall says.

Garren serves as the East Spencer officer for the Rowan County Housing Authority’s Weant Street Apartments. Stovall says the department is trying to work with youth in the apartment area, and Garren’s car may serve as an important introductory tool.

It attracts attention, much like the unmarked Mustang that Stovall drives.