The Cookeville City Council will consider the purchase of two new police vehicles this week, replacing patrol units that were totaled earlier this year.
Cookeville Police Chief Scott Winfree said the two vehicles priced at an estimated $89,000. Winfree said the Police Department needs to replace the two totaled vehicles.
“Right now, those officers are having to drive spare vehicles,” Winfree said. “And we have a certain amount of spare vehicles that an officer can drive if one needs mechanical, it needs repair, or one gets crashed. But those need to be available for other officers also.”
Winfree said the police department is using a combination of insurance payouts, leftover funds, and money from its drug fund to purchase the vehicles. The council will also consider spending an estimated $37,400 to outfit both vehicles.
“We purchase them just like anybody would purchase from a dealer,” Winfree said. “And then we’ll take those to an upfitter that puts on all the lights, the sirens, and all the equipment within the vehicle.”
City Manager James Mills said Winfree does a good job of finding money within the department’s budget to make these kinds of purchases. Winfree said he was more confident adjusting funds within the department’s budget as the fiscal year nears its end.
“While we are very cognizant of our budget throughout the year, you never know, just like in this case, what may occur toward the end of the fiscal year,” Winfree said. “So that’s why we try to be very responsible with the taxpayers’ money, just in case something like this occurs.”
Winfree said it may take a few months for the vehicles to be outfitted and ready for patrol. Both vehicles are Ford Interceptor SUVs that would be purchased on a statewide contract.
Cookeville City Council will consider the purchases this Thursday at City Hall, starting at 5:30pm.