The Modesto City Council has approved a $2.3 million expenditure to update the Modesto Police Department’s vehicle fleet. The decision, made unanimously on Tuesday, allows for the purchase of 27 Ford Interceptors from Folsom Lake Ford and five Chevy Tahoes from Winner Chevrolet in Colfax. Three of these Tahoes will be assigned to the Modesto Fire Department.
City officials said that while many of the vehicles slated for replacement are not particularly old, they have accumulated high mileage and increased repair costs. “It’s very important that we have vehicles that are available in service that, again, can provide the service needed for our community,” said city Director of Finance DeAnna Christensen.
Records show that for 22 out of the 27 police interceptors marked for replacement, maintenance and repair expenses have surpassed their original purchase price. The total spent on repairs and maintenance since acquisition is about $1.8 million for these vehicles; including the five Tahoes brings this figure just over $2 million.
The oldest police interceptors being replaced were purchased in 2015 and the newest in 2020. Mileage among these ranges from 59,157 miles to as much as 146,000 miles. The Fire Department’s current Tahoe models date back to 2003 and 2007, both with over 100,000 miles.
Public speaker Kevin McClarty requested that the vehicle purchase item be removed from the council’s consent calendar—a group of items typically approved together without discussion—to allow for public comment. During discussion, McClarty asked if foreign-made vehicles might offer more reliability. MPD Chief Brandon Gillespie responded that Ford and Chevy are currently the only manufacturers producing “pursuit rated” vehicles with “police packages.” Christensen added that no local dealerships submitted bids for this contract.
