Police to order new cruisers
The Berkeley Springs Police Department will soon have two new Dodge Charger police cruisers in which to patrol town streets.
The Town of Bath Council voted to purchase the new vehicles as replacements for the two older Dodge Intrepid cruisers at the Tuesday morning, June 15 council meeting.
Council already purchased one Dodge Charger for police earlier this year. With the additional two vehicles, all three full-time town police officers will be driving a new patrol car.
Bath Police Chief Craig Pearrell held a workshop for the town’s police committee on Wednesday, June 9. At that time, Pearrell explained the various options to buy or lease the vehicles as proposed by each of the big three auto makers.
The Dodge Charger with police package came in as the lowest cost vehicle at $17,749 each. General Motors did not have a vehicle equipped for police use and offered a stripped down Impala for $19,000. The Ford Crown Victoria police vehicle cost $23,630 per car with a minimum purchase of three, Pearrell told council.
Council had set up a police depreciation fund during budget discussions in March for the fiscal year starting July 1. That fund is to receive $1,667 per month.
Pearrell presented a quote from CNB Bank, Inc. for financing the two Chargers at 6.49% or $1,581.23 per month over two years. Council has the option of paying that amount out of the fund each month or putting some money down to lower payments.
Pearrell said it will cost up to $5,000 per car to install a light bar, new police band radio and striping. He suggested the money be raised by selling the older police cruisers.
Council voted to authorize Mayor Susan Webster and Finance Committee Chairman David Crosby to sign a two year loan agreement with the bank up to $36,000 for the purchase of the cruisers.
Vehicle phase out plan
During the discussion, several councilmen expressed their concern about the police not having a written schedule for phasing out vehicles over time.
“You guys told me you would have a phased replacement plan and I have not seen that,” Councilman Ryan Rebant said.
Councilman Scott Merki pointed out the last two police vehicles purchased by the town were bought in 2003 and police are robbing parts from one to keep the other on the road.
“The chief is spending all his time in the office trying to maintain vehicles and keep them on the road when he should be out making investigations or whatever,” Merki said.
Pearrell said over the past year the department has spent $22,000 in maintenance on the older police vehicles.
Councilman Kenny Easton said he felt the same as Rebant. “I am comfortable now with buying the two vehicles, but you have to give us a phase out plan,” Easton told Pearrell.
“I don’t like managing by crisis. We have to have a plan,” Councilman Jim Slough agreed.
Pearrell agreed to submit a plan to council for the phasing out and replacing of police vehicles.
