Posted on 12/06/2010 8:10:45 PM PST by Army Air Corps
LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - You can expect to see some changes to the Lubbock Police Department's fleet. LPD is buying 50 new SUV or Sport Utility Vehicles to replace aging police cars.
Police have traditionally used a Ford Crown Victoria as their most common vehicle. However, Mayor Tom Martin says the Crown Victoria is no longer an option. Internet reports indicate that Ford will stop production of that particular model in 2011.
"I did talk with the police administrators and it's not going to be as much as we thought," said Councilman Floyd Price, Lubbock City Council.
Councilman Floyd Price said city leaders across the country face the same challenge as Lubbock, now that Ford will stop making the Crown Victoria.
"There is two options out there. Chevrolet is going to make police cruiser. Anytime something is new, you don't want to be the first guinea pig to pick up on that new automobile," said Price.
Price said the city tried a new car before, without good results. "We went to a Chrysler that was made and it was not proven and of course it cost the city lots of money," said Price.
Price said they went with the Chevrolet Tahoe for several reasons: it's high enough off the road, it fits the necessary equipment, and it's rear wheel drive, which price, a former police officer himself said is a must for high speed pursuits. "So it's going to be good for the police department," said Price.
The city said the fuel cost will be comparable, so we did some checking. According to Gene Messer Ford and Chevrolet, the Crown Victoria gets 16 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway. And The Tahoe gets 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 miles per gallon on the highway. "It's about the same," said Price.
Price said the city will have to buy new prisoner dividers for the Tahoes, but he says that's an expense they would also have with changes in the Crown Victoria. Police said the old cars will be used until they are out of commission and sold at auction.
Companies wishing to sell 50 SUV's to Lubbock police have until December 16th at 3:00 PM to submit a bid.
The wind will just blow them over...and don’t even think about how the smell from the cattle pens down near Post will stick in all that space.
Place some lead weights in the floorboards. ;-)
The odor from the feedlots is only noticeable when the wind blows from the Southeast. Of course, that could just be the smell of BS from Austin.
“SUV’s” what? What part or element of the SUV is to become a car? Or do we have another case of a jernolist who has no grasp of basic English?
Lubbock needs a fleet of 50 frikkin cruisers? Holy shiite. I ain’t never been there but I had no ideer it was that big.
Be a hell of a lot less money than 50 brand new SUVs
Why not build a new brand new 8 story city hall with an Olympic swimming pool on the roof for the government employees? Throw in a new mansion for Boss Hog while he's at it...
Can anyone translate this?
Government blows tax money any way possible...Nothing but the best for Boss Hog and his boys...
Boss Hog is probably putting this out there to see how much the tax slaves bitch.
They feel there are two options (for replacing their current fleet). One would be to wait for a new model dedicated to fleet use for police forces (it’s the former Pontiac G8, an Australian Holden originally and a fine car, shame it’s being relegated to this alone).
The other option would be to go with an SUV. The NC state highway patrol has these but still uses the Dodge Charger and a few remaining Ford Crown Victorias; they’re Chevrolet Blazers, somewhat lower ground clearance and rear wheel drive with a high output V8 engine.
Not Blazer, Tahoe, sorry.
I'd bet the rent no more then 12 are needed at any given time...
The tax payers are going to be gang raped...As usual.
It's to keep tabs on all the students at Texas Tech. When Lubbock was "dry", there were students who used to cross the County line to import booze for Sat. night parties. I know a woman who put herself through college doing that.
Give the local shops some business, put some rebuilt motors in them, inspect them for safety, new tires, brakes, some new trannys etc....Get another 250k out of those crown vics.
Tell the corrupt local government mobsters if they don't like it, go get real jobs in the private sector.
College paddywagon for drunks
You never went to Texas Tech did you? (yea, I did)... there is nothing to do there but drink.. (and the womens).. they hook you in thinking it is a good school but then drive you insane with the dust and wind.. if it weren't for the police, your's truly would be dead (albeit, a lot freeps would like that).
It isn’t so much the size of the population as much as the land area. The city is spread out over 114.9 square miles and growing; 12 cruisers would not cut it. I am not saying that they need the new vehicles. I, personally, favour refurbishing the existing fleet. I think someone smells an opportunity for a kickback on the new vehicles.
The flip side is that the county has Crown Vic's with strobes that change the upcoming lights. They are way better.
One of the main complaints you hear about from people on this forum is that when seconds count the police are only minutes away (that's true) and driving SUVs will only make that worse.
I also think in some areas you could get away with a lighter car for a lot of police work. You don't have to be able to transport prisoners in every vehicle. There are plenty of smaller sedans that could fit the bill and keep the Crown Vic's or SUVs for transporting prisoners and dogs.
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