Owasso council approves purchase of eight police vehicles and equipment totaling city-funded capital outlays

The Owasso City Council approved purchases to replace and outfit eight police patrol vehicles, plus the related equipment, using state contract pricing and funds from the city's Capital Improvements Fund.

Sean Jones, an Owasso Police Department staff member, told the council the department had budgeted for eight vehicles in the fiscal year and located units available through state purchasing contracts. Jones said staff identified five 2024 Dodge Durango all-wheel-drive, pursuit-rated SUVs from Bob Howard Dodge Chrysler Jeep at a state-approved price of $44,752 per unit, and three 2025 Ford F-150 police-responder crew-cab 4x4 pickup trucks from Bob Moore Ford at a state-approved price of $50,629 per unit.

"Bob Howard Dodge Chrysler Jeep has agreed to the state of Oklahoma's approved pricing of $44,752 per unit for the 2024 Dodge Durango police vehicles. And Bob Moore Ford has agreed to the state of Oklahoma's approved pricing of $50,629 ... for the 2025 Ford F-150 police vehicles," Jones said.

Jones recommended approval to purchase the five Durango vehicles for a total of $223,760 and the three Ford pickups for a total of $151,887; staff said funds are available in the Capital Improvements Fund and cited City Council Resolution 2017-05, which the city adopted to permit purchase of police safety vehicles from that fund.

Councilors voted to approve the vehicle purchases. When polled, Councilor Paul Loving, Councilor Cody Walter and Mayor Alvin Prejean answered "Yes." The motion passed.

Immediately after the vehicle purchase vote, Jones presented a separate request to buy vehicle-mounted public-safety equipment to outfit the eight vehicles. He said Visual Force Incorporated of Catoosa, Oklahoma, an authorized vendor on the state contract, had provided a quote of $78,544.69 for the equipment. Jones said the equipment would be purchased and installed by a separate vendor to save on installation costs.

"Visual Force Incorporated provided a quote of $78,544.69 for the equipment needed for the 8 police vehicles," Jones said.

The council approved the equipment purchase; when polled, Councilor Loving, Councilor Walter and Mayor Prejean again answered "Yes." The purchases will be funded from the Capital Improvements Fund as allowed by Resolution 2017-05.

Council discussion clarified that the purchases covered only the vehicles and equipment; installation would be contracted separately to reduce costs. Jones said the vehicle purchases will support current hiring and vehicle replacement so patrol staff are assigned fleet vehicles as hires occur.