Fredonia police chief warns two patrol cars near end of life as budget cuts reduce supplies and months of operating flexibility

Fredonia’s police chief detailed fleet and supply shortfalls at a village budget review, saying several patrol vehicles are past their practical service life and that recent cuts to supplies and training will leave the department short of required items this year.

Chief Price (referred to in the meeting as "the chief") told officials the department has four patrol cars but two are "beyond their life cycle" with odometer readings the chief described as 97,000 and 109,000 miles. He said the department’s total miles last year averaged 139,000 and that patrol vehicles accrue heavy idling and wear. "When you see a 109,000, 97,000 miles, the engine's got 3 times that worth of wear," he said, adding that worn suspension and other failures make the cars unsafe.

Cost pressures discussed included outfitting new vehicles (the chief said estimates to buy and outfit a patrol vehicle ran around $70,000, with hopeful reductions toward $60,000) and cuts to supplies. The chief said supplies were requested at $18,000 and that the mayor’s proposed adjustments cut $8,000, leaving $10,000; he listed tires, ammunition and three ballistic vests among items that will need purchasing early in the fiscal year. The chief explained ammunition is budgeted in training and that some purchases are seasonal (for example, he delays buying ammo until closer to range dates).

Officials explored staffing and overtime options. The chief said he has part‑time and retired officers who can fill shifts and recommended hiring a retired part‑time officer to reduce overtime costs for upcoming events (officials agreed to reach out to a retired officer and to pursue hiring if the person remains available). Finance staff explained that the personnel change occurred because a dispatcher candidate became available, which shifted one personnel slot from an officer to dispatcher and reduced the personnel line accordingly.

Why this matters: Patrol‑vehicle reliability, ammunition, tires and protective equipment tie directly to officer and public safety. The chief warned that several vehicles are unlikely to last the year and that deferred purchases of safety items and vehicle replacements will increase operational risk.

Ending: Officials asked staff to price vehicles and return with firm cost estimates; they tentatively agreed to restore at least one patrol vehicle to the budget pending final price quotes and to pursue a part‑time hire to reduce near‑term overtime pressures.