The Centerville Police Department recently ordered three new vehicles for its fleet: two Police Responders (Police F150s). and a Ford Explorer. The two F150s will be used by patrol sergeants and replace Police Interceptor Utilities vehicles. The Ford Explorer will be used by new Police Chief Allen Ackerson.

The cost came in at $187,285 which was below the budgeted amount of $196,650.

“When we asked for the budget we were expecting the manufacturer [to] raise the price and they did but probably not as high as what we had planned,” Lt. Will Barnes told the city council Oct. 1. “So, it looks like we’re going to be coming in underneath which can be good. Sometimes unforeseen things come up when you get these new vehicles expecting them to come a certain way and then the equipment that you already own doesn’t quite fit, but we don’t expect any of that.” 

One of the pick-ups will cost about $3,000 more than the other because it will include a new 800 MHz radio. The department tries where possible to move equipment over from old vehicles, he said in answer to a question from council on the cost. The department has been gradually replacing the radios in its vehicles to comply with a state mandate to be compatible with a new state system, he said.

 “We have been switching out the radios over time,” he said. “That’s the last one of the old ones and we’re getting down to the wire on those not being able to work anymore with the new radio system that that is coming in with the state.” λ