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Crime & Safety

Police Department Updates Fleet

Upper Southampton Police Chief Ron MacPherson talks about the department's two new patrol vehicles.

Upper Southampton Township Police are patrolling the streets with two new vehicles.

A marked 2010 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and 2010 Ford Expedition SUV have replaced the department’s 2002 Expedition and 2006 Crown Victoria, which had both accumulated over 100,000 miles.

Police Chief Ron MacPherson said on average Upper Southampton's police vehicles log around 40,000 miles a year.

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“We really got our money's worth on the 2002 Expedition,” said MacPherson of the SUV, which had 180,000 miles on its odometer.

MacPherson said most police cars are taken off regular use or retired after about 100,000 miles. The cars face a daily beating of running for long periods of time, fast acceleration and braking, driving in all types of weather and much more.

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With the two new purchases, all the vehicles in the department's fleet now feature LED police lighting. These lights burn brighter and uses less energy than previous emergency lighting.

The 13 vehicle police fleet includes patrol cars as well as vehicles for detectives and administrative purposes. It features two SUVs: the new Expedition and a 2007 Ford Explorer, with 94,000 miles on it. According to MacPherson, the older SUV will mainly be used for utility purposes.

“The SUV is needed for many reasons, including inclement weather," said MacPherson, adding that the Crown Vics typically don't handle all too well. 

He said the new SUV will only be used by patrol supervisors. It will carry extra equipment that is not found in the other patrol vehicles.

“We are fortunate that the township has been able to give us the funds to replace two [police] vehicles every year,” MacPherson said.

Figures the Chief provided show the new SUV cost the township approximately $38,000 and roughly $26,000 for the Crown Victoria. These numbers include the price of the instillation of equipment, painting and decals. 

MacPherson said one of the things that helped to keep costs down was the fact the racks that hold the police radio and other equipment could be transferred from the old vehicles to the new ones. He said the in-dash camera systems, which begin recording whenever the lights are activated, were also able to be transferred.

Money is also saved when purchasing vehicles in conjunction with other police departments. MacPherson said the township purchased these vehicles as part of a joint ventrue with the Northampton and Lower Southampton police departments.

According to MacPherson, maintaining the police fleet costs the township more than $2,000 per car for each year. He said most of the work is performed by a mechanic employed by the township.

Currenlty, the township maintains two cars with no decals. All of the other patrol units are marked.

"People have a greater sense of security when they see a marked car," MacPherson said.

All the marked Upper Southampton units have been updated to feature the department's motto: 'Serving with Integrity and Respect.'

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