$184,445 in new vehicles on way to Sylvania police

5/13/2013

Five new Sylvania police vehicles soon will hit the streets, replacing 2009 models that have been the longest-lasting cruisers in the city’s history.

Three Ford Interceptor sedans and two Interceptor sport utility vehicles are being delivered at a net cost of $184,445 after deducting trade-ins and $25,000 from the federal Equitable Sharing Fund, Mayor Craig Stough said. The vehicles will wear new graphics decals designed by city police for the new models.

Sylvania bought the vehicles from a vendor in Van Wert, Ohio.

In the past, Mr. Stough said, Sylvania replaced its police cars every two years, then increased the cycle to three years as vehicle durability improved. The department’s nine-car fleet is four years old, and four of those cruisers won’t be replaced until next year. All nine vehicles have more than 100,000 miles of mostly local driving on their odometers, the mayor said.

The replacement vehicles’ cost includes accessory equipment except for radios, which will be transferred from the old cruisers. Two of the 2009 cars will be kept for use by Sylvania’s two school resource officers, and the current command officer’s car will be reassigned to the Volunteers on Patrol Unit and receive new decals.