Police likely to get 25 new cars

Spokane city officials worry that the Police Department’s aging fleet of patrol vehicles may start breaking down because of high mileage, heavy use, and lack of replacements.

Funding for replacements was cut from the city budget in 2005 and 2006 to help pay for patrol officer salaries, and the department has slowed its replacement of older cars until more money is available.

But now the City Council is on the verge of approving $800,000 to buy as many as 25 new cars by using part of a surplus in sales and utility tax collections this year.

The department needs about 25 new cars each year to ensure a reliable fleet, city officials say.

So even with the purchase, the Police Department will still be behind on its normal vehicle rotation by as many as 50 cars unless more money is set aside in 2007, said Gene Jakubczak, director of fleet services for the city.

He said he fears that the high-mileage vehicles could break down during emergencies. “We’re pushing it,” Jakubczak said. “This is life and death.”

Jakubczak’s mechanics are credited with keeping the cars running, but some of the most heavily used patrol vehicles now have 120,000 miles. The department prefers to assign patrol vehicles to detectives and volunteer service uses when they reach 80,000 miles.

While 80,000 miles may sound like moderate mileage to civilian motorists, it’s actually fairly high for patrol cars, which are used for quick acceleration and hard braking in stop-and-go driving.

Front ends, transmissions, steering systems and engines all wear more quickly on police vehicles. One mile on a patrol car is equivalent to about three miles on a civilian vehicle, Jakubczak said.

“They are getting pretty ragged, pretty worn,” he said.

Cpl. Tom Lee, department spokesman, said the department some days doesn’t have enough patrol cars for its officers because so many vehicles are being repaired. On those days, some officers have to work in teams of two, which reduces patrol coverage, he said.

“It’s a serious concern,” Lee said.

Council members are expected to approve the purchase at their meeting on Sept. 25. The cars, made by Ford, would arrive in about three months, once the order is submitted.

For some council members, the purchase has been too slow in coming.

“I thought we had gotten this approved months ago,” said Councilman Bob Apple, who has been arguing that the Police Department needs to maintain its fleet. Apple said the city should have purchased the vehicles last spring when it first learned that tax revenue was coming in faster than expected.

“I have no idea why it’s taken so long,” he said.

Chief Financial Officer Gavin Cooley said that part of the delay stemmed from the selection of new Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who was sworn in Monday and then given the chance to approve the purchase.

Cooley said he may recommend leasing the vehicles instead of buying them, then holding the $800,000 in short-term cash deposits, which are paying interest that may equal the cost of the lease.

The city budget has about $1.5 million in excess cash because people are buying more goods and services this year and the tax collections on all utilities have increased in tandem with higher utility rates.

The department has held back its last eight new patrol cars while awaiting more vehicle money.

About 50 cars are used for day-to-day patrol work, 25 are used by traffic patrol, seven are used by K-9 officers and another seven are used by neighborhood resource officers.