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Lapeer approves purchase of two 2025 Chevrolet Tahoes for police; city shifts from Ford amid availability and safety reasons
Summary
The commission authorized preordering and purchasing two 2025 Chevrolet Tahoes outfitted with police packages, at $53,664 per vehicle. City staff said the switch from Ford to Chevrolet reflected officer-safety preferences, vehicle availability and fleet reliability.
The Lapeer City Commission approved the preorder and purchase of two 2025 Chevrolet Tahoes with police packages on June 16, at a unit price of $53,664.
Commissioner Brady moved the procurement; the motion was supported and passed by roll-call vote. City staff explained the vehicles were procured through a state-negotiated purchasing program that provides pre-negotiated pricing and handles some procurement logistics. Staff said only a limited number of dealerships supply fully equipped law-enforcement vehicles and that Berger Chevrolet was the vendor offering the required specification.
Why it matters: Police fleet vehicles are a recurring capital expense with implications for officer safety, maintenance, and resale or repurposing of older vehicles.
Staff rationale and details: Police leadership and fleet managers said the Tahoe provides greater size and perceived officer safety compared with Ford Explorers, and staff recounted reliability and dealer-supply problems with Ford models during COVID and more recently. "The safety for the Tahoe is being higher, bigger. We thought... it was an officer safety benefit to our officers," a staff member said. Staff also said availability prompted the transition: "Chevy just seemed to have better availability." The vehicles will be outfitted for police use; department staff said equipment from retired vehicles will be repurposed when compatible but some Ford-specific equipment will not transfer to the new Chevrolets.
Funding and procurement process: Staff said the state purchasing network (MiDeal) negotiated pricing and that their vendor list narrows available outfitted options; the city is not required to solicit three quotes for this purchase under its procurement policy when using a state contract.
Outcome: The commission approved the preorder and purchase. Staff said older vehicles will be reassigned within city departments when appropriate, and equipment will be repurposed or replaced as needed.
