Lewes council approves purchase of police vehicle
The Lewes Police Department will soon add a new vehicle to its fleet.
Mayor and city council gave the OK to Police Chief Tom Spell Dec. 14 to purchase a new Ford Interceptor. A new vehicle had been budgeted for the current fiscal year, but was put on hold in the spring as the city cut expenses due to the unknown financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of the reasons we suspended this purchase is because we weren’t sure if we were going to be reimbursed for a lot of our COVID expenses,” said City Manager Ann Marie Townshend. “We’ve been told we will be through the CARES Act.”
Spell said there is an urgent need for a new vehicle, as one of the cars has been sidelined since Sept. 30, requiring $5,300 in repairs. The car has been driven 95,000 miles, but with idle time added, Spell said, the car’s true milage is about 435,000. He said the industry standard is 33 miles for every hour of idle time.
Council’s vote was 4-1, with Councilman Rob Morgan opposed. Morgan has kept a vigilant eye on the police budget over the last few budget cycles. For this issue, he said, he believes the repair is much more fiscally responsible than a brand-new car that will cost an estimated $45,000 to $48,000, some of which is typically covered by grants.
“Given the policing needed in Lewes, I don’t think we need to be a micro version of a big-city police force with fast vehicles that have rifle racks and all that,” he said.
Morgan has been urging Spell for years to consider alternative options when shopping for new police vehicles. Spell says it is not in the best interest of public safety to equip his officers with anything other than what he’s planning to purchase.
Deputy Mayor Bonnie Osler agreed.
“It is important for a police officer to get to a crime scene as quickly as possible,” she said, adding the car must be equipped to handle violent criminals. “I’m going to go with the expertise of the chief.”
Spell is considering a Ford Interceptor for about $45,000 or the hybrid version of the same SUV for about $48,000. The Lewes police fleet does not currently have a hybrid vehicle, Spell said.
