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Sylvania Council approves purchase and upfits for two police Interceptors
Summary
Council approved two Interceptor vehicle purchases and interior/exterior upfits, funded from federal equitable sharing drug enforcement account; one older vehicle to be retained for court-related duties.
The Sylvania City Council on a voice vote approved two ordinances to buy and outfit patrol vehicles for the police department, funding the purchases from a federal equitable sharing fund tied to drug law enforcement.
Council voted to authorize purchase of two Ford Interceptors from Baumann Ford, Oregon, LLC, at $49,095.94 each and to appropriate $98,191.98 for the purchases. Council then approved a separate ordinance to pay Northwest Ohio Emergency Equipment $15,486 per vehicle to install interior and exterior patrol packages, a total appropriation of $30,972.
The items were introduced by Councilmember Stout and Councilmember Dowell and passed as emergency measures. Staff member Mr. Shaw told the council the purchases were included in the 2025 budget and would be paid from the city’s federal equitable sharing account (a 229 drug law enforcement account). “Right now, they’re not expecting any delays,” Chief of Police Miller said when asked about vehicle availability, adding that Baumann Ford reported stock that would allow the city to take delivery without a known hold-up.
Shaw described the existing fleet: a 2014 Ford Interceptor with about 153,000 miles (previously used as the school resource officer vehicle), a 2020 Interceptor with about 90,000 miles that will replace the SRO vehicle, and a 2018 Interceptor with about 46,000 miles the chief recommended retaining for light-duty assignments tied to Sylvania Municipal Court duties (summons delivery, custody transports and similar tasks). The council approved keeping one existing vehicle rather than selling two.
Councilmembers asked about timing and supply-chain risk. Chief Miller said the vendor currently has stock but acknowledged that lead times can change. The city will upfit the two new vehicles after purchase and shift an existing 2020 Interceptor into the SRO role.
The ordinances passed by unanimous voice vote and were carried as emergency measures, allowing the purchases and upfits to proceed immediately. The council did not record a roll-call vote in the public minutes provided.
