Earle to buy used police cruisers

Earle to buy used police cruisers

City strikes deal with Highway Police

news@theeveningtimes.com

With all of its police cars aging and badly needing tune-ups, Earle decided to take advantage of an opportunity to buy three used and fully equipped police cars from the state Highway Police.

Earle Police Capt. Fitzgerald Couch told the city council that the Highway Police have several late model Ford Crown Victoria police cars which are in excellent shape available at a special price to municipalities.

The cars are 2010 and 2011 flex fuel models with under 113,000 miles on them and also come equipped with siren, lightbar, and cage. “All of them are well maintained. The brakes work well. The tires are like new,” Couch said.

“Some of them are pretty much mint.”

Couch said the vehicles are being offered for $3,602 each. If the city were to buy them anywhere else they would easily cost over $20,000, Couch said.

“This is a price you are not going to find anytime soon,” Couch said. “I saw the fleet manager. I left impressed that they were in great shape.”

Earle has three police cars all in various states of disrepair.

The police department has been relying heavily on a 2007 Crown Vic but the vehicle is wearing out and needs maintenance. A second vehicle, a black unmarked Impala, is also not in good condition.

The city’s 2014 Dodge Charger police car blew an engine rod because it was low on oil. The city later replaced the motor with one that was incompatible.

“We are having issues with vehicles,” Couch said. “We have old cars. And at some point they are going to break down.”

Councilman Bobby Luckett asked Couch how many cars he wanted to buy for the department.

Couch initially suggested two or as many as they felt they could afford.

“You sure that’s all you want?” Luckett asked.

“You don’t want three?”

Councilmembers gladly approved purchasing three cars.

“That’s great,” said Councilman

Donnie Cheers. “I

say get them.”

City Clerk Cynthia Conner said the city budgeted $10,000 for repairs to the 2014 Dodge Charger and $5,000 for a used car.

The city has only spent $2,000 of the money intended

to repair the

Charger.

“We have the money,”

Conner said. “We can scrape by.”

By Mark Randall