Finance committee approves sending police Durango pursuit purchase to full council

The LaSalle Finance Committee voted to send a police request to purchase a Dodge Durango pursuit vehicle to the full city council, with committee members noting the purchase would be paid from police drug-forfeiture funds rather than the city’s general fund.

The police chief explained the vehicle is available through a state bid and listed the sticker price as $41,067. “It is what it is. Sticker price, dollars 41,067,” the chief said. He added the department intends to fund the purchase from the drug fund: “Not a nickel is gonna come out of the taxpayer’s pocket on this.”

According to the chief, the department will retire an administrative vehicle and repurpose it for parts and light-duty tasks, bringing the number of marked line squads to eight. He said the fleet has experienced problems with a newer car that has been in repair and has about 40,000 miles on it.

A motion was made to forward the vehicle purchase request to the full city council for approval; the motion was seconded. During roll call, Aldermen Thompson, Reynolds, LaVieri, Jepsen, Herndon, Crane and Ambassador voted Aye. The committee’s recommendation will be placed on the full council agenda for final action.

Committee members discussed equipment transfer and installation; the chief said light and radio equipment will be transferred from the retiring admin car and some newer supplies will be purchased as needed. The purchase was presented as a state-bid procurement and not subject to local competitive bidding.