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Council approves trade and finance to replace police fleet with four new interceptors
Summary
The council approved option two to trade in four surplus police vehicles and finance four new Ford Interceptor SUVs with $65,000 up front and roughly $22,000 per year for three additional years, citing vehicle longevity and officer safety.
Hamlet’s council approved a plan to replace aging patrol vehicles by trading in four surplus cars and financing four new Ford Interceptor SUVs under a deal that requires an initial buy‑in of about $65,000 and annual payments of roughly $22,000 for three subsequent years.
City staff presented two options: trade four used vehicles for two replacements (lower near‑term cost but fewer new vehicles) or a four‑for‑four trade with a financing arrangement that spreads part of the purchase across four years. Chief James Carst and City Manager John recommended the four‑for‑four option, saying the current Mavericks in the fleet are not suitable for the demands of patrol duty and many vehicles were near 100,000 miles.
Staff said trade allowances (about $19,500 per trade) and dealer services to professionally remove and reinstall equipment would reduce off‑the‑road time. Upfit costs — lights, equipment and related work — were estimated at about $10,000 per vehicle. Council motioned and approved the financing option.
The council recorded the approval in open session and directed staff to proceed with surplus declarations, dealer agreements and budget adjustments consistent with the financing plan.
