Some departments are cruising on 6 cylinders

By James A. Kimble
jkimble@eagletribune.com

August 18, 2008 01:25 am

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SALEM, N.H. — A proposal to buy five new police cruisers with 8-cylinder engines could hit a roadblock if one selectman gets his way.

Selectman Patrick Hargreaves has been lobbying his fellow board members in recent weeks to consider shifting the town's annual purchase of five new cruisers from Ford Crown Victorias to Chevrolet Impalas, with 6-cylinder engines.

"When was the last time the Salem Police Department did 120 mph down Route 28?" Hargreaves said. "You don't need that kind of power in a police cruiser."

Hargreaves wants Salem to mimic a conversion underway by the Windham Police Department, which has been leasing a pair of Chevy Impala cruisers with 6-cylinder engines for the past year. Windham plans to convert its seven-car patrol fleet to Impalas within the next few months.

Police departments in Andover, North Andover, Methuen, Haverhill and Lawrence all use V-8 engines in their patrol cars. But Haverhill has been using 6-cylinder engines in about eight of its cars used by administrators or detectives since 1995.

"What prompted it is the cars were cheaper to buy, cheaper to run and because they were used in an administrative capacity," said Haverhill police Capt. Alan J. Ratte.

Andover police Sgt. John Pathiakis said the Crown Victoria has proven to stand up to significant wear and tear.

"Right now, I have the headlights, air conditioning, radar, radio and blue lights on," Pathiakis said in a phone interview during his patrol.

He said the Crown Victoria's police package comes with a larger alternator, battery and transmission that allow the cars to run a variety of equipment 24 hours a day.

Pathiakis said cars typically last two years with the department, averaging 80,000 to 90,000 miles.

New Hampshire State Police have been gradually switching over to Dodge Chargers, equipped with HEMI V8s, that can even shut down half their cylinders to increase fuel economy while on the highway. North Andover has started buying Dodge Chargers as well.

But Hargreaves believes Salem can save thousands of dollars by purchasing cruisers with a lower price tag and better fuel economy. He said Salem could buy Impalas for approximately $19,000 versus approximately $25,000 for a Crown Victoria. Hargreaves estimates five cruisers with smaller engines would burn $15,000 less in gas.

Windham police Chief Gerald Lewis said his desire to switch over to a smaller engine came largely from wanting front-wheel drive in the winter instead of the rear-wheel drive offered by Ford.

"I was very interested in getting a vehicle that provided us with better wintertime traction around town," he said.

Instead of buying cruisers, Lewis said, the town is leasing vehicles so they can get new cruisers every three years, and save on more costly repairs after mileage goes beyond 100,000 miles.

The chief said there were some savings in the initial price of the vehicle. But some equipment — the prisoner seat, cage and the console — can't be retrofitted from the Ford to Chevrolet, meaning the department had to buy new equipment for the Chevrolets.

Windham paid $19,446 for each Impala lease, but spent between $1,200 to $1,500 to add equipment that could not be transferred from its old fleet of cars, Lewis said.

"There's testing out there that says in the grand scheme of things there isn't much difference in mileage," he said. "I don't have any figures yet; the general consensus here is we're saving a little bit on fuel."

Salem police, now researching Hargreaves' proposal, disagree with his assessment. But police officials are withholding their findings until they are done studying the issue and hand the results over to Town Manger Jonathan Sistare and selectmen.

"There's a significant disparity based on our research so far on what Mr. Hargreaves has presented," Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten said. "But until we complete and present the comparative analysis we're doing to the town manager and Board of Selectmen, we prefer not to comment any further. We would like the public to be assured we are working diligently for the best possible package for the taxpayers, and we're doing our due diligence in regard to public safety."

Sistare did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Lewis said he is happy with the switch, but believes communities need to decide on their own what kind of police cruiser they want on their streets.

Windham, which has a population of roughly 12,900, is largely a bedroom community that neighbors Salem's grid-like strip of retail stores, the Mall at Rockingham Park and the Rockingham Park racetrack.

"It works for us," Lewis said, "but if Ford came back tomorrow and had a better pricing plan or somebody else had a better pricing plan, we'd definitely look at it."

Salem selectmen Chairwoman Elizabeth Roth said switching to a smaller engine may seem at first blush a smart move, but she wants board members to take an in-depth look once town staff prepare an analysis of different vehicles.

"I need more facts before we can go forward," she said.

Selectman Michael Lyons said he is open to saving money. Lyons said he wants to make sure a switch-over would not adversely affect the service the Police Department provides.

"I want to hear what the impacts are on police service and if we can maintain the same level of services," he said. "So I assume during the budget process we'll hear that."

Lyons said he will also want to hear what Sistare recommends. Sistare is in the throes of trying to deliver a 2009 town budget with the same bottom line, $37 million, as last year.

Police and fire chiefs, along with other department heads, are due to present their budgets in about three weeks.

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