The Jefferson Police Department has been patiently waiting for a needed piece of equipment for about one year.

Police Chief Mark Clouse says the police department has a two year policy to purchase a new patrol vehicle, but they ran into a problem and are supposed to receive that vehicle later this month, primarily because the manufacturer of the Dodge Chargers has stopped producing those vehicles for law enforcement. 

“That has been on order for about a year now, and it should’ve actually been purchased out of last (fiscal) year’s budget. Well you couldn’t get vehicles. Everybody that bought a vehicle in the last two years understands that. So now that we’ve switched to the Fords 

Clouse notes the department is switching to the Ford Explorer Interceptor, and while it’s more expensive, he states it was something they were forced into having to do. 

To get ahead of the upcoming vehicle purchase, the Jefferson City Council approved this past October for the next patrol vehicle for just under $70,000 and Clouse anticipates receiving that vehicle by this summer.

“I’m very glad the Council could see that process and the problems we’ve been having, and go ahead and bless the order of that. Otherwise if we wait until that time comes when it’s time to order that vehicle per two year policy you’re waiting a year. So that’s what happened to be this time and so now we’re kind of off cycle, and just trying to get back on that cycle.”  

Clouse adds these newest vehicles are typically used by the patrol officers because he wants them to have the best quality vehicles because those vehicles are used 24/7. The funds for these new vehicles is a budgeted item from the police budget.