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Board approves vehicle purchase for GIPD DEA task force post; funding from forfeiture and prior sale
Summary
Grosse Ile trustees approved purchase of a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee for an officer assigned to the DEA task force. The $42,751 purchase will use $25,000 from the sale of a prior vehicle and the balance from Department of Justice federal forfeiture funds; staffing and canine needs remain under review.
The Grosse Ile Township Board on June 9 approved the police department's request to purchase a new unmarked vehicle for an officer expected to be assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration task force later this summer.
The board approved buying a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee for $42,751 through the state's MiDEAL vehicle program. Police officials told trustees the department will apply the $25,000 received from sale of a 2019 Ford Explorer (previously assigned to K-9 duties) and cover the remaining cost with DOJ federal forfeiture funds; no township general-fund transfer was reported for the purchase.
Nut graf: The board approved the vehicle purchase while noting personnel constraints that delay the officer’s assignment to the DEA task force and a separate decision about restoring a department canine unit. Trustees were told the vehicle can be upfitted later if the department reinstates a K-9 team.
Staffing, canine and funding context: Police presenter Margaret (identified in the meeting packet as the PD presenter) said the department projects assigning an officer to the DEA task force in July but that several officers are on leave (FMLA/medical), so the transfer has been deferred until staffing stabilizes. The department noted the DEA-funded task force position, when filled, has historically been supported by DEA funding and may generate future forfeiture proceeds.
On the canine question, officials told the board the department has not yet replaced its drug-detection canine after the death of a prior canine. Department staff said they can outfit the purchased vehicle for a canine if the department later restores that capability.
Procurement: Staff praised the township’s administrative work to secure a competitive price through Michigan’s MiDEAL cooperative program. Chief and staff comments noted the finance and administrative staff searched multiple sources and recommended the vendor as offering a better net price.
Quote: "The DEA officer has always been funded through funds brought in by the DEA," a trustee observed during discussion; Margaret added that purchasing the vehicle through forfeiture funds and the prior sale preserves general-fund resources while allowing the department to be ready if and when an officer is assigned.
Outcome: The board voted to approve the vehicle purchase; trustees recorded no appropriation from the police operating budget for the purchase, which will be funded by the sale proceeds and federal forfeiture funds.
