Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Police Department put its first Dodge Charger into service last week.
The 2012 Charger has a V6, said Sgt. Jason Van Eck. “It’s not the Hemi. It’s not the V8.
“It’s a little roomier inside than the Impala and the Crown Victoria. It’s set up primarily the same as the other cars. We compared the prices between the new Chevy Caprice that’s coming out.”
The Chevrolet Impala was discontinued as a patrol car two years ago. The department had started using the Impalas to save money. Since the Impala was discontinued, the department switched back to the Crown Victoria.
The Crown Victoria, in turn, has been discontinued, forcing the department to shop around for a new patrol car , which resulted in a choice between a new Caprice and the Charger.
The Charger was more affordable and available in a V6 package, Van Eck said. In a recent comparison by another area agency, the Caprice outperformed all other models, including a new Ford, but it is much more expensive.
“So we went with a car that has a decent reputation,” Van Eck said. “As far as law enforcement, it’s a proven police vehicle.”
The city paid about $33,000 for the Charger.
The Ford Mustang is not an option for Sweet Home, Van Eck said. It is primarily used for traffic duty because it has only two doors. That configuration means it is not a safe alternative when officers must transport a prisoner.
A new Ford model and the new Caprice are newcomers to police work, Van Eck said. If this vehicle holds up over the next six months, the department is able to order and officers are still impressed with the Charger, the Sweet Home Police Department will probably order another Charger.