Spokane Washington Police Car Crisis
It's not as bad as mufflers falling off or police cars completly dying, but the Spokane Washington Police department is having to deal with a fleet of patrol cars that is starting to show it's age.
'Police Chief Jim Nicks said cars usually last about two years because they are in continual use under tough conditions. The budget for new police cars was among those slashed as the city of Spokane has faced budget deficits in recent years, and no new cars have been purchased since 2003.
Each fully equipped car costs about $30,000, Nicks said.
"Half the fleet now has over 80,000 miles, and a quarter of the patrol cars have over 100,000 miles," Nicks said.
Dan Smith, equipment servicer for the Spokane Police Department, said cars used to be taken out of service when they hit 100,000 miles, because of maintenance costs.
Gavin Cooley, the city's chief financial officer, has outlined options for the Public Safety Committee to consider, including asking voters to approve an operational levy of $1.1 million and a leasing option.
Leasing is the most viable option because of the city's projected budget shortfall of $11 million in 2007, Cooley said.
About 50 cars are used for day-to-day patrol work, 25 are used by traffic patrol, seven are used by K-9 officers and another seven are used by neighborhood resource officers, police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said.
The city has eight new patrol cars left from a supply it bought in 2003, Nicks said. The department needs about 25 new cars a year to keep the patrol division in good shape.
Smith said patrol is tough on the Ford Crown Victorias because the cars go over uneven terrain, such as curbs and through alleys, often at a high rate of speed.
A retired Idaho State Police officer published a report in 2002 in which he polled 15 law enforcement agencies about when patrol cars were taken out of rotation. The mean average mileage was 70,800. Keeping the cars running past 100,000 miles "more than nickel and dimes you to death," Smith said. "It costs you more in the long run to keep it going."'
Spokane Washington Police Car Crisis
'Police Chief Jim Nicks said cars usually last about two years because they are in continual use under tough conditions. The budget for new police cars was among those slashed as the city of Spokane has faced budget deficits in recent years, and no new cars have been purchased since 2003.
Each fully equipped car costs about $30,000, Nicks said.
"Half the fleet now has over 80,000 miles, and a quarter of the patrol cars have over 100,000 miles," Nicks said.
Dan Smith, equipment servicer for the Spokane Police Department, said cars used to be taken out of service when they hit 100,000 miles, because of maintenance costs.
Gavin Cooley, the city's chief financial officer, has outlined options for the Public Safety Committee to consider, including asking voters to approve an operational levy of $1.1 million and a leasing option.
Leasing is the most viable option because of the city's projected budget shortfall of $11 million in 2007, Cooley said.
About 50 cars are used for day-to-day patrol work, 25 are used by traffic patrol, seven are used by K-9 officers and another seven are used by neighborhood resource officers, police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said.
The city has eight new patrol cars left from a supply it bought in 2003, Nicks said. The department needs about 25 new cars a year to keep the patrol division in good shape.
Smith said patrol is tough on the Ford Crown Victorias because the cars go over uneven terrain, such as curbs and through alleys, often at a high rate of speed.
A retired Idaho State Police officer published a report in 2002 in which he polled 15 law enforcement agencies about when patrol cars were taken out of rotation. The mean average mileage was 70,800. Keeping the cars running past 100,000 miles "more than nickel and dimes you to death," Smith said. "It costs you more in the long run to keep it going."'
Spokane Washington Police Car Crisis
posted by M.L.D. at 8:57 AM
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