[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...&TM=50319.1

City Looking At New Police Cars
Tentative bid for 15 Ford Crown Victorias accepted for $319,000 from Porter auto dealer.

Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - The Michigan City Board of Public Works and Safety on Wednesday tentatively accepted a bid on 15 new police cars.

But the city won't go through with the purchase until authorities get a better handle on what amenities the vehicles will contain.

Assistant Chief John Kintzele said the department is looking to purchase 14 2008 Ford Crown Victoria squad cars and one unmarked Crown Victoria at a cost of around $319,000. The bid accepted was from Lakeshore Ford in Porter - the only bid received that included all of the city's mandated information.

Kintzele said he needs to make sure required additions to the cars like spotlights and passenger-side airbags are included in the bid price. The bid sheet lists all included parts simply by manufacturer codes.

"There also is no mention made of our trade-ins," Kintzele said Wednesday.

The Lakeshore Ford bid of $20,955 per vehicle came in slightly over the state's Quantity Purchase Agreement amount of $20,527 per vehicle, but the QPA is for a standard car, said Kintzele.

Michigan City Controller John Schaefer said purchases that meet the QPA don't have to be bid out, but the cars were bid out to see which dealer would give the city the best deal.

Kintzele wants to make sure the $400 difference per car between the bid and the QPA is for the extras each car requires.

"If the extras are worth the difference, then they'll probably accept the bid," Schaefer said.

Mayor Chuck Oberlie said if the bid doesn't meet all the city's specifications, then the acceptance will be rescinded and city will solicit bids again in the fall for new, 2009 models.

While other police departments are purchasing smaller cruisers, including the popular Dodge Charger, Assistant Chief Mark Swistek said the city has chosen to stick with the larger Crown Victoria because they offer more of what officers are looking for.

Several years ago the department solicited bids from all manufacturers and purchased several Chevrolet Malibus. Those cars, Swistek said, are too small and difficult to get out of quickly.

"We cram these things. They're like a second office," Swistek said, explaining that squad cars house not only an officer, but guns, computers and other items. "(Fords) are better outfitted to what we need and they're better tested for our needs.

"The warranty is also the best we've seen."

Contact Jason Miller at jmiller@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Roger Kaputnik]

In the question of the Malibus being hard to get out of quickly, is it a question of there not enough doorway or is it too much cop in the doorway?

I like the po-po going back to the Crown Vics. it is much more traditional.

[CaddyRich]

In the question of the Malibus being hard to get out of quickly, is it a question of there not enough doorway or is it too much cop in the doorway?

I like the po-po going back to the Crown Vics. it is much more traditional.

There is a mistake in the N-D article (shocking, I know...). They were Chevy Impalas, not Chevy Malibus. The Impala is somewhat larger, but not as big as the Crown Vic land yacht.

[Dave]

What kind of mileage does a Crown Vic get? With gas prices topping $4 per gallon, that has to be considered in the equation.

[Southsider2k12]

What kind of mileage does a Crown Vic get? With gas prices topping $4 per gallon, that has to be considered in the equation.

I am guessing once the police package gets added to them, they might are probably in the 15 city/22 highway range of vehicles.