Search Result: Managing a Police Fleet

Managing the rising costs of police fleets is a challenge that all law enforcement agencies are facing. Fortunately, there are technologies available to help fleet managers better manage these costs and save their departments thousands of dollars annually.

Most law enforcement agencies have been through the process of buying and equipping cars many times before. But just because you’ve done it before doesn’t mean you have to do it the same way every time. There are many choices when it comes to outfitting your patrol cars with lightbars, partitions, deck lights, and all the other accoutrements that make cruisers patrol ready. Maybe it’s time for your department to look into the different options.

Keeping fleet operating costs under control is a top priority of police fleet managers, given the realities of budget shortfalls; however, with the 24/7 nature of patrol duty and other assignments, cutting operating costs can be a tall order. POLICE magazine spoke with fleet managers from large agencies throughout the country to find out how they do it.

Asking for the right amount of funding for purchasing patrol cars in the first place and wisely choosing how to spend it could put you ahead of the game. A vehicle replacement schedule is the best way to efficiently reach these goals.

You know your agency needs patrol cars, and that some new ones show up every year or so, but you might not be aware of the intricacies of the process. Keeping that process running smoothly could mean the difference between patrolling by car and walking your beat.

For specialized units from SWAT to airborne patrol, today's police officers need more than just four wheels and a roof.