Public Safety patrols in brand new Chargers
According to Deputy Chief Major Joe Grant, the Department had requested the cars in March 2008, but they only entered into service three weeks ago.
The cars cost about $29,000 each, and Maj. Grant said that Public Safety looked for ways to economize wherever possible. One problem, said Maj. Grant, was that Public Safety had used mostly Ford Crown Victorias, and many of their old equipment would not fit the Chargers. Grant noted that the new Chargers used older dashboard cameras, since new systems would have cost about $5000.
Maj. Grant said that the department had attempted to find used Chargers, but was forced to buy new ones, since the Charger model has only been on the police market for three years. In fact, the original order had been for 2008 Chargers, but by the time the manufacturer was able to fill the order, only 2009 Chargers were available. In spite of that, Maj. Grant said, the department paid the same price that it would have paid for the 2008 models.
One reason for acquiring new cars during a budget crisis, according to Maj. Grant, is fuel economy.
“Our Crown Vics only get about eight or nine miles to the gallon,” said Grant. “The Chargers are supposed to get 16 miles to the gallon, but even if they only get a few more, that will be a great savings in terms of fuel costs.”
Automotive Web site motortrend.com, in a profile of the 2009 Charger, said that Dodge had indeed improved fuel efficiency and made the cars more comfortable, which is an important feature since officers may spend hours in the car at a time.
Officer Scott Lance confirmed the greater fuel efficiency and comfort and suggested another upside to the Charger.
“It gives us more of a police presence. It’s got more a dynamic look to it. It’s more of a professional look, in my opinion..I’ve been driving Crown Vics since I started in 1998, and when we got these Chargers, I was overwhelmed by the difference in the body styles,” Lance said. “I’ve seen the State Patrol driving them before, and when they would go by you, you just knew that that was a dynamic presence that they had and you wanted it for yourself.”
According to state law, said Maj. Grant, the cars will be required to be used for 10 years or as long as they are serviceable, and he hopes that the cars, which have not been on the market for very long, will last that long.
“In our business, we have to keep up with technology, and right now it even looks a little more critical, with the budget crunch being so heavily affected right now. And it looks like we just bought a brand new car, when in essence, the cars were purchased eleven months ago,” Grant said. “But things like that are necessary, and we’ve always bought used in the past, but we’re trying these out.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 13 2009. Filed under News.
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