Keeping the Crown Vic
Several large West Coast law enforcement agencies are stockpiling CVPIs.
July 17, 2012
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by Paul Clinton
- Also by this author
Photo: iStockphoto.com
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As the new patrol cars become more readily available from the Detroit automakers, many agencies are choosing their new enforcement vehicle. However, for others the decision is on hold. For a variety of reasons they are choosing to stay with Ford's now-discontinued Crown Vic.
The Los Angeles Police Department continues to evaluate its choices as the city navigates a $238-million budget shortfall. Vehicle replacement funds have yet to be made available for the agency’s aging fleet of CVPI patrol units.
Los Angeles County is facing a less-severe budget crunch, a $76-million shortfall, but the sheriff's department will continue utilizing its higher-mileage cars. The LASD and other departments have stockpiled Ford CVPIs in their final production year, 2011. The sheriff purchased 600 of these CVPIs for its fleet of 1,800 black-and-whites, and won't pick a replacement car until late 2013, says Lt. Vance Duffy, who oversees the fleet unit. "The decision to stockpile Crown Vics saved money because we already have all the parts and it was a more economical purchase," he adds.
Jonathan Stafford, fleet manager of the Long Beach (Calif.) Police Department, bought 106 2011 model year marked CVPIs for his fleet of 109. He said he would wait until Ford and General Motors "work out the kinks" during the first model year of the new Ford interceptors and Chevy Caprice before choosing a replacement.
Related:
The World's Last Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor
LAPD Evaluates Driver Training with Patrol-Car Choice
Tags: LAPD, Managing a Police Fleet, Ford CVPI, L.A. County Sheriff, Long Beach (Calif.) PD
Comments (3)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
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DEADMAN @ 7/24/2012 10:50 PM
I preferred the Crown Vic,i thought it to be a more stable vehicle platform,less likely to roll or fishtail,more room,less confining on the sides,easier to control.
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Eric @ 7/26/2012 7:48 AM
Our department decided to buy 2 of Southwest Public Safety's used/reconditioned 2009 PI Crown Vics. They only have 70,000 miles on them & were reconditioned & repainted. Hopefully next year's budget will alllow us to buy some of the newer models.
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Marshal Fine @ 7/26/2012 8:53 AM
We went through this same thing in 1996 when GM closed the B-Body line down in Arlington, TX. Several dealers here in the midwest started a nice cottage industry by re-furbing the Caprices. I bought about 10 of them over time and ran them well over 200,000 miles. Cheap to buy and cheap to refurb with a great car.
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