STARKVILLE — The Starkville Police Department will soon be adding 15 new cars to its fleet.
With the new budget year fast approaching, Starkville Police Chief David Lindley is excited about the newest additions to his department.
As with any law enforcement agency, vehicles play a key role in the department’s viability. Lindley said his department has figured out a way to extend the life of its fleet, creating a stronger, more cost-efficient police department.
While most sheriff’s departments have a car for each deputy, or “take home cars” as they are commonly called, police departments typically do not. That is not the case with the Starkville Police Department.
By getting 15 new cars every three years — a little less than a third of its fleet — officers not only have a car assigned to them, but the life of the car is dramatically extended. Lindley says his cars stay in the fleet nine years instead of the three years that is typically considered the standard.
In most police departments, police cruisers are constantly running. When each shift changes, different officers use the same cruiser that was used on the previous shift. As a result, a cruiser can be in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lindley argues that by assigning each of his 55 officers his own car, the use of each vehicle is drastically reduced.
Police officers typically work seven 12-hour shifts during a two-week span, if overtime is not required. The chief argues that the officers ideally work six months out of 12. By Lindley’s math, that means a cruiser is in operation just three months during a calendar year.
“You just cut the use of that car down by 75 percent,” Lindley said. “That’s why they can last so long.”
For example, one of the oldest cars at the SPD is a 2007 model Crown Victoria. It has just 37,000 miles on it. That is virtually unheard of in police departments.
The Ford Crown Victoria is being discontinued and Lindley said his department will switch to the Police Interceptor Ford Taurus. Lindley said he has seen both the Taurus and the Dodge Charger perform and, equipped with four wheel drive, the Taurus outperforms the Charger every time. The department currently has one Taurus ordered and will order 15 more after the 2013 Fiscal Year begins Oct. 1.
The cars are assigned by seniority, rank and need. Each cruiser typically costs $22,000, plus $5,000 in equipment. Lindley added that with each officer having their own vehicle, the department can put every single officer on the streets if needed. In neighboring Columbus that’s not possible.
In fact, the Columbus Police Department requested four new police cars for FY 2013, but due to budget constraints, the request was cut. Columbus Chief Financial Officer Mike Bernsen said a new cruiser averages $25,000 through the state contract.
At the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, every deputy, investigator, narcotics agent and US Marshal has his own take home vehicle, totaling 41 cars. The LCSD is switching to the Dodge Charger as their police cruiser of choice and under the state package, the Chargers cost $22,500 without the lights and equipment. Two new Chargers were ordered in FY 2012 and cost the department a total of $53,998, fully loaded.
The Crown Victorias cost $24,000 fully equipped.
Chief Lindley said he sees every officer having their own car as vital.
“A police officer without a car is like a cavalryman without a horse,” Lindley said. “It’s been a tremendous success for us. We’ve been given the ability to provide services with a very frugal investment.”
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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