Privately Funded Detroit PD Cruisers Ready for the Street

The Detroit Police Department has put 130 of 144 new police cars into service, at least 100 of which were given to the city through an $8 million donation in the spring.

The deployment of a privately funded fleet of Detroit police cruisers and ambulances is nearing completion — welcome news for first responders who are used to driving older, often run-down vehicles.

The Detroit Police Department has put 130 of 144 new police cars into service, at least 100 of which were given to the city through an $8 million donation in the spring, the Detroit News reports.

The money also covered the cost of 23 new EMS rigs that were provided through a partnership of businesses, including the Penske Corp., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Quicken Loans Inc. as well as General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.

Detroit Police Sgt. Michael Woody said each precinct has 10 to 12 of the new cars. Some precincts have been operating with newer 2011 vehicles, while the oldest cars in the fleet date back to 2000.

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