Bartlett approves purchase of nine police vehicles

By fall, Bartlett residents can expect to see some members of their police force patrolling town in nine shiny new police vehicles.

On Tuesday, the village board approved the purchase of three 2013 Ford Utility Interceptor police vehicles and six 2013 Ford Interceptor police sedans for a total of $242,884.

The village’s 2013-14 budget already had $260,500 earmarked for the vehicles, meaning the police department is saving about $17,600 with the purchases. As part of the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative, the village had stronger purchasing power, resulting in the lower prices than budgeted, Chief Kent Williams said.

The new vehicles are part of the department’s normal vehicle rotation. Old vehicles are on auction, and the money from their sale will go back to the village’s general fund, Williams said.

The new vehicles are 20 percent more fuel efficient than the V-8 Crown Victoria. The utility interceptors will be assigned to a patrol sergeant, the canine unit and the federal task force officer. The sedans will be assigned to the patrol division, investigations unit and directed patrol team.

Williams said there are about 42 vehicles in the fleet, with approximately 20 squad cars. The new vehicles are expected to be delivered within three to four months from the time the order is placed.