The most well-known vehicle of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department will soon have to change.
Ford announced last year that it would discontinue the Ford Crown Victoria in late 2011. Now the KCPD, along with many departments nation-wide, are on the search for the next primary patrol vehicle.
“Every department is in the same boat, and each one has a different opinion about which car will be the right choice for them,” said Captain David Bosworth, commander of the Fleet Operations Unit.
A KCPD committee composed of patrol sergeants, fleet personnel and commanders has begun researching possible vehicles to replace the Crown Victoria.
Ford has announced two possible replacements: a “Police Interceptor” SUV and a sedan based on the Ford Taurus. Other options include police versions of the Chevrolet Caprice, the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Chevrolet Impala, and the Dodge Charger.
“What we’re looking for is safety, dependability, functionality and space for all the equipment that must be installed and carried in the car,” said Major Roger Lewis, commander of the Parol Bureau.
The department also needs a vehicle that is easy to maintain because the KCPD’s Fleet Operations Unit provides maintenance and repair work for department vehicles.
They need a vehicle that can be repaired quickly and back on the streets.
“We need to keep 95 percent of the fleet available and on the street at all times,” Captain Bosworth said.
They hope to find a replacement similar to the Crown Victoria, meaning it has rear-wheel drive and a full-frame construction that will take less time to repair than vehicles with front-wheel drive or a unibody construction.
Captain Bosworth said so far there isn’t a perfect option.
A decision won’t be made until the car manufacturers release pricing information and allow departments to drive test vehicles.
Do you have an opinion on what our next vehicle should be? Let us know on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/kcpolice.
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