BOARDMAN — The first Boardman police cruiser was driven Thursday to Haus Auto Group, 4141 Boardman-Canfield Road, to undergo the PermaSafe process to protect it from the coronavirus and more.

The process was offered to Boardman police by local businessman Rob Fox.

“Rob Fox of Buckeye Consulting Dealerships is donating the supplies and training to Boardman Township to disinfect safety service vehicles,” township Trustee Brad Calhoun said. “This process is using a solution provided by Permasafe. Rob, a local business man and Boardman graduate, is providing the service, supplies and training to Boardman Township. Haus Auto Group is offering the training for free as well.”

Struthers resident Derek Guzzo treated the first police cruiser. He used the cruiser to show how to properly apply the solutions.

“PermaSafe is a two-step antimicrobial product,” Guzzo said. “The first step cleans the vehicle. The second step applies a shield that can last up to three years.”

The shield puts down a coating that continues the protection and, according to police Chief Todd Werth, his department will continue to use the product. He said the police station gets daily cleanings and sanitizing, and all employees have their temperatures taken at the start of every shift.

“This is just another great measure in keeping people safe,” he said.

Receiving the training on how to apply the product was the police department’s head of maintenance, Michael Carkido. He has served the department for 19 years and is looking forward to taking this next step for the safety of the officers.

“I will be trained and will be handling the whole fleet,” Carkido said. “This is all about officer safety. I talked to people about this product, and they say it works well and lasts for months.”

Boardman police have a fleet of 25 marked cruisers and about 20 unmarked cars. Werth said the 25 cruisers will be done first as they are the vehicles that carry prisoners in the back seat.

Calhoun was thankful for the donation from Fox and to the Haus Auto Group for providing the training and location. He said down the road, he is hoping to see this program spread.

“Our goal is to extend it to the road department and fire department vehicles as well,” Calhoun said.