Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Due to higher call loads and resulting heavier mileage on its fleet of patrol vehicles, the Sweet Home Police Department will purchase two new patrol cars this year instead of the usual one.
The City Council approved the purchase during its regular meeting on March 14.
The department had only one patrol car budgeted for this year.
“The Police Department has been able to maintain a vehicle replacement schedule of one patrol vehicle each year for the last 10 years,” Police Chief Bob Burford said. “We have, in the past, skipped some years but have subsequently purchased two cars the following year.”
The department maintains seven cars in the patrol division, Burford said. The newest four cars are used by patrol officers. The sergeants use the oldest two, and one is used for travel to court and training.
“Due to several factors, including more miles being traveled each year as our call load has increased, we find ourselves needing to replace more than one vehicle due to high mileage and mechanical deficiencies,” Burford said.
The department will purchase two Chevrolet Impalas costing $17,982 each. The older Ford Crown Victorias cost some $25,000 each.
The existing fleet includes two 2005 Impalas with 30,000 and 41,000 miles on them. A 2002 and 2003 Crown Victoria have 127,000 and 63,000 miles respectively. The sergeants’ 1999 Crown Victoria and 1998 Crown Victoria have 128,000 and 112,000 miles respectively. A 2001 Crown Victoria with 148,000 miles is used for court and training.
With the new cars, the department will dispose of the oldest primary fleet vehicle, the 2002 Crown Victoria. The 2003 Crown Victoria will replace one of the supervisors’ vehicles based on recommendations from the department’s mechanic.
Purchasing the second vehicle will cost approximately $29,000 from contingency funds to pay for the car and equip it.