City Will Replace Aging Police Cars

The city’s men and women in blue will soon be patrolling in new black-and-whites. The city is replacing most of the Police Department’s aging 27-car fleet.

Within a few weeks, city officials said, a dozen 1996 Chevrolet Caprices will roll out. They will replace 1992 models that have logged as many as 100,000 miles, more than twice what is typical for police cars, General Services Director David Niederhaus said.

In the past, Niederhaus said, patrol cars were replaced when they reached 40,000 miles; now 75,000 miles is more typical.

The City Council approved the purchase of the 12 Caprices nearly two years ago for about $20,000 each. The two-year lag came after General Motors cut the number of Caprices produced.

Next year, GM plans to stop Caprice production altogether--news that prompted Niederhaus and the Police Department to recommend the approval of another six cars for about $120,000.

The newest six cars will replace patrol cars as they reach the 75,000-mile mark, Niederhaus said. They probably won’t be used until next year.

“The cars we are replacing are literally beat up,” Police Sgt. John Desmond said, adding that the Police Department lost two patrol cars in traffic collisions last fall. Another car’s steering wheel fell off recently, he said.

“These things run 24 hours a day,” he said, “and some of these cars have gone way beyond their life expectancy.”

The only other police vehicle available to cities is Ford’s Crown Victoria, which is more costly, Niederhaus said. The city would have to buy new police gear for the Fords, he said, such as specialized bumpers and electronic equipment, instead of transferring them from old Caprices.