Board approves purchase of four 2025 Ford Interceptor SUVs; officials outline fleet replacement plan

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. — The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted July 14 to approve the purchase and upfitting of four 2025 Ford Interceptor SUVs for the police department for $233,872 through Lonnie Cobb Ford. Police and city staff said the purchases are part of a planned replacement cycle in which the city typically replaces four patrol vehicles each year to maintain an 8–11 year replacement schedule. Officials said the department had fallen behind in prior years and bought numerous vehicles in recent cycles to catch up. City staff said the contract price includes on-site outfitting of emergency equipment at the dealership so vehicles would arrive ready for service except for local striping and decals performed after delivery. Officials said the arrangement improves delivery speed compared with prior ordering timelines of 12–18 months; with the approved purchase, the vehicles could be ordered immediately and, in the vendor’s estimate, might arrive this week though outfitting and final preparation could extend the timeline. Board members asked for and were promised an updated fleet spreadsheet showing vehicle ID numbers, purchase dates and anticipated replacement dates so the board can see year-to-year replacement planning and the cascading of older units to other city uses (for example, SROs receiving higher-mileage hand-me-down vehicles before surplus). The board approved the purchase 6–0. City staff also said grant funds had covered some recent vehicle purchases in prior years; current purchases come from the city’s budgeted replacement program.