Drache
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger
The son of a Colorado sheriff's deputy killed on the job went to a department auction, hoping to score the winning bid on his father's patrol car.
Though the 2010 Dodge Charger had more than 100,000 miles on it and was valued at only $12,500, the bidding went far past that amount.
But Tanner Brownlee topped out at $50,000, the highest he could go to get his dad's beloved cruiser.
Local rancher Steve Wells won the auction with a $60,000 bid Wednesday night. After being handed the keys, he walked straight over to Brownlee and said "Tanner, here's your car."
Tanner was stunned. And then he was in tears.
"Thank you, man," he said softly as he embraced the stranger, KUSA-TV reported.
The auction was held to benefit the Concerns of Police Survivors, a national group that offers support to the families of fallen law enforcement officers.
Brownlee's dad, Sam, was a beloved member of the Weld County Sheriff's Department. He was killed five years ago during a shootout with a suspect.
Tanner was 15 at the time, and knew even then how much his dad babied that patrol car.
"He put time and work into it. He drove it every day, and so to have something like that will be bigger than a lot of things I could have gotten," he told the station.
Wells, the local rancher, declined to be interviewed.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/son-slain-colorado-dad-patrol-car-article-1.2222584
Though the 2010 Dodge Charger had more than 100,000 miles on it and was valued at only $12,500, the bidding went far past that amount.
But Tanner Brownlee topped out at $50,000, the highest he could go to get his dad's beloved cruiser.
Local rancher Steve Wells won the auction with a $60,000 bid Wednesday night. After being handed the keys, he walked straight over to Brownlee and said "Tanner, here's your car."
Tanner was stunned. And then he was in tears.
"Thank you, man," he said softly as he embraced the stranger, KUSA-TV reported.
The auction was held to benefit the Concerns of Police Survivors, a national group that offers support to the families of fallen law enforcement officers.
Brownlee's dad, Sam, was a beloved member of the Weld County Sheriff's Department. He was killed five years ago during a shootout with a suspect.
Tanner was 15 at the time, and knew even then how much his dad babied that patrol car.
"He put time and work into it. He drove it every day, and so to have something like that will be bigger than a lot of things I could have gotten," he told the station.
Wells, the local rancher, declined to be interviewed.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/son-slain-colorado-dad-patrol-car-article-1.2222584
