The Jamestown Sun
The Jamestown Police Department is doing a little downsizing; not in the size of the force, but in the cars they drive, said Police Chief Dave Donegan.
"At this time we're replacing three older vehicles with two Dodge Chargers and one SUV," he said. "We'll keep some SUVs for deep snow. For us it doesn't matter what the conditions are, we still have to respond."
The SUV, a Ford Expedition, is still being fitted with the department's equipment and is not on the street yet but the two new Chargers are and are being noticed.
"The officers love the cars," Donegan said, "and the response from the public has been positive."
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Donegan said it makes sense to have part of the force driving cars.
"First is the cost," he said. "Second is gas mileage. Also, these Dodge Chargers come in a police package that includes spot light, heavy duty alternator and suspension and are pre-wired to hook up all our equipment."
The Jamestown Police Department purchased the cars under a statewide bid. The Dodge Chargers cost the city $20,937 each while the new Ford Expedition was priced at $23,647.
"We should see a savings in gas too," he said. "We don't really calculate gas mileage because the cars are going around the clock. The only times we shut them down are for oil changes and shift changes."
The new units also feature a new paint job.
"The officers decided on the color," he said. "They decided to go with the black rather than the white."
The new color scheme also uses reflective paint to make the cars more visible at night.
Donegan estimated that each police car puts on somewhere between 50,000 and 60,000 miles each year and is generally replaced after two to three years of service. The department anticipates replacing one vehicle next year although no decision has been made whether they will get another car or SUV at that time.
