There's a New Police Cruiser in Town

There are five new shiny police cruisers on Stow streets, and although they are identifiable, they have a new retro look. 

The cars cost the city $21,884 each ($109,420 total) out of the general fund. Police Chief Louis Dirker said they were necessary because the cost to maintain some of the older vehicles exceeded the purchase price of a new vehicle.

"We had $85,000 last year on repairs ... that's a lot of money," he said. "My point was, if we get the newer cars, the repair costs are going to take a nose dive. If we can cut down our repairs to $30,000, that's a savings of $50,000."

The vehicles are Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors with V6 engines. Just recently the vehicles were outfitted with lights, computers, radios, all the bells and whistles a cruiser gets and they are now road-ready.

The new cars are under warranty for about a year and a half and after three years, the department will own the vehicles.

The chief said the new five cruisers replaced older vehicles and one that was deadlined due to a crash during the .

Most of the cruisers replaced had between 158,000 to 185,000 miles on them, he said.

"When you have 140,000 to 150,000 miles on a car, would you feel confident going 100 mph down the freeway?" said Dirker. "It's an officer-safety issue and a matter of straight economics."

Five to six more of the new retro-looking cars will be purchased next year and hopefully the whole fleet will be changed over to black and white Crown Vics by 2013, Dirker said. There are 17 cars total in the fleet.

The other 12 cars in the fleet are in average condition, but some a nearing replacement.

"Some have 100,000-some miles on them," he said. "Through a grant though we have two new cars we purchased last year. I'd say the [older] cars are in pretty average condition."