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Board approves police fleet and equipment purchases totaling about $328,000
Summary
The Board of Public Works approved purchases for an administrative squad, four marked patrol vehicles, an evidence van and Tasers for 2025, citing lifecycle replacement and operational needs and saying the items fit within the CIP budget.
The Board of Public Works and Capital Assets on Jan. 14 approved a set of police vehicle and equipment purchases for 2025, including one administrative squad ($42,560), four marked patrol vehicles ($211,599.80), an evidence van replacement and upfitting ($57,800) and Tasers for training and street deployment ($16,000).
Board members said the purchases are within the department's approved capital-improvement program and were moved and approved on separate motions. Marshall moved the administrative vehicle and the marked vehicles; Tibert moved the evidence van; Czarnecki moved the Tasers. Roll-call votes recorded aye majorities for each motion.
Police Department staff described the purchases as routine replacements driven by mileage, wear and department needs. A staff presenter explained the administrative vehicle decision: "it just does not work right now" to lease fleet vehicles because turnover and mileage make leases more expensive, and the department instead rotates vehicles so older marked units become administrative cars when still mechanically sound. The presenter said a Chevy Blazer was chosen as the administrative vehicle because it provides available four-wheel drive, better fuel economy than larger SUVs and fits the department's administrative needs.
On the evidence van, staff said the department has used repurposed ambulances in the past but those units have become larger and harder to maintain; the recommended replacement is a Ford Transit high-top van quoted at $48,599 with roughly $9,000 estimated for upfitting. "It's a little bit more than the quote then, but as we know, everything keeps rising," staff said, adding the vehicle will be more manageable for evidence technicians and more fuel-efficient than an ambulance.
On Tasers, staff noted the department began deploying them around 2001 and now requires annual recertification that consumes cartridges and batteries. "We need to minimally have that many on hand, plus what we expect to go through for that year," the presenter said, explaining the $16,000 request covers training and expected annual use; cartridges and batteries carry about a five-year shelf life.
Board discussion touched on operational flexibility: members asked whether the administrative or evidence vehicles can be used for response in a pinch; staff said they can if needed but lack some pursuit-specific equipment and computers typical of marked patrol vehicles.
The board recorded abstentions on the minutes vote earlier in the meeting; the vehicle and equipment motions passed by roll call. The purchases were described as fitting within the department's CIP and budget allocations.
