Keeping the Crown Vic

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.

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