Hybrid vehicles for police

I am interested in the deployment of hybrid vehicles in NY. I can definitely see some areas where a large urban department does not need every single officer (or two-man unit) in a large interceptor. I cannot see replacing every vehcile this way, but I can see using them for some of the fleet to help reduce costs.

I would be looking at the overall operating cost of the vehicle, not just the fuel mileage. Does it last as long and take the abuse even an "administrative" car can take? Is the fuel savings enough to cover the higher initial cost of the car? Is the financial cost the only factor to take into account, or does the social benefit of being "greener" justify a slightly higher expense per unit?

I have seen several specialized police departments that have very few standard police cars. College campuses, school district campus officers, hospital districts, and even some park police and airport police departments use smaller or non-traditional vehicles.

I remember in the 70's when the Metropolitan PD in Washington ut almost half their force on small (50-250cc) scooters instead of cars. it worked for the time and situation.

So, for the weekly poll, I voted maybe because it would depend on the patrol i was doing. If I was assigned to run radar on IH-10 in a rural area, I want as much pure power as I can get, which means big blocks and full size cars (where is my Fury III with a 440?). If I am assigned to a small area with a restricted area, I can see all sorts of other types of cars as being acceptable.