Spending almost $900,000 to buy 10 police cars, as Ocean City Police Department proposes to do in the next fiscal year, might have local budget skeptics wondering if these vehicles are worth the price.
As it turns out, they are, according to pricing averages from suppliers and police departments around the country.
The mayor and City Council apparently already know that, or they would have asked during their review of the Ocean City Police Department’s budget last Friday why police cars cost what they do.
The base price of the cars at $50,000 each isn’t surprising, given the new car market these days. But then, even a stripped-down police car isn’t the same thing as the Chevy, Ford or Dodge that can be driven off the lot by its new owner.
Vehicles built for public safety are more rugged than the normal passenger car. They also come off the line with big engines, heavy-duty brakes and assorted protective features.
It’s the “upfitting” of these vehicles — turning the basic vehicle into a road-ready police car — that adds $34,500 to the base price.
That’s how interim Police Chief Michael Colbert and city Budget Director Jennie Knapp have budgeted the new car acquisition: $345,000 in upgrades for 10 cars.
It isn’t difficult to justify that number based on what other departments around the country have paid to upfit their new cars.
All the broken down prices have been padded by the installers at rate of approximately 100%. There is were the high cost comes into play.
My mother’s uncle, was the colonel in charge of Maryland State police operations in the 1970’s. He attained that position after coming up through the ranks on the Eastern Shore. It was his decision to have the trooper’s cars painted beige instead of the traditional two-tone green. He claimed that saved $140 per car.
The cars were high yellow, not beige
Price for my safety. Also please continue the cop car at home residences here in OC. It does provide a level of deterrence. Given most bad guys are bad seeing a PO PO CAR may make them think twice. Or not.