Algood Police will make the switch to Ford with the purchase of three new vehicles.
Police Chief Dale Armour said the Dodge Chargers of the fleet were experiencing multiple mechanical issues and needed to be replaced.
“The 2014’s specifically, we are having front in and motor issues,” Armour said. “We were trying to get away from the Hemi engine because of that. The Hemi was the only thing that came in the all wheel drive vehicle.”
Armour said the department’s fleet plan allows three new vehicles each year. The new $40,000 Ford utility vehicles will provide officers with more room and better gas mileage.
“The council gives us three vehicles a year to replace. Then, we will turn around and sell the three vehicles out of our inventory,” Armour said. “We are allowed to get one administrative vehicle and two patrol units. This year, we are going with three patrol units to get the 2014’s out.”
The 2014 Dodge Chargers got 11 miles per gallon. Armour said officers could barely fit a spare tire in the vehicles due to the increased amount of equipment carried. The purchase of the three vehicles cam under budget by $10,000.
“The Dodges look great but do not have that much space,” Armour said. “By moving to a utility vehicle, we can carry more stuff then we normally would like extra barricades.”
Armour said the new vehicles will be operational by the end of September.
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