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Sheriff's Office makes plans to replace four police vehicles

By Howard B. Owens

The Sheriff's Office is on the verge of obtaining four new police vehicles, three patrol cruisers and an SUV, at a cost of $92,000 $88,605.

The vehicles will replace four aging ones that have all logged from 110,000 to 132,000 miles.

The Public Service Committee approved the planned purchase today.

The three specially constructed Ford sedans and a Chevrolet SUV will be built in Australia and won't be ready for three months. (CLARIFICATION: Only the Chevy is being built in Australia.)

The sedans are being purchased through Delacy Ford in Elma at a cost of $60,655, which includes a trade-in allowance of $23,000.

The trade-in agreement is based on the vehicles' current mileage, even though the vehicles will be in service for at least three more months, adding on more miles.

Delacy apparently didn't have an SUV that met Sheriff's Office specifications, so that vehicle will be purchased for $27,950 from Hoselton Chevrolet.

Local dealerships were invited to bid, but none submitted bids, according to Sheriff Gary Maha.

"I'm happy to see they're at least being purchased in New York," said Legislator Esther Leadly. "It used to be they came from New Jersey."

The purchase price is $3,395 under budget.

Destin Danser

Getting them built in genesee county may be a stretch... Customizing emergency vehicles is a Specialty thing that not just anybody can do right.

However... It could easily be done within our own nation, and probably within new York state.

How much are we paying to ship them to/from Australia to get modified?

Feb 15, 2012, 8:38am Permalink
Mark Wiatrowski

The three specially constructed Ford sedans and a Chevrolet SUV will be built in Australia and won't be ready for three months.

"I'm happy to see they're at least being purchased in New York," said Legislator Esther Leadly.

I see a problem with this.

Feb 15, 2012, 8:59am Permalink
Jeff Allen

Police vehicles are not off the line cars that are modified, they are purpose built as police vehicles. It just so happens that General Motors currently builds their police fleet vehicles in Australia through their subsidiary Holden. Modifying standard vehicles after they come off the assembly line is cost prohibitive. Most police vehicles in use across the US are purchased through this method after undergoing testing by the Michigan State Police. As far as buying them from a local dealer, the article clearly states that local dealers were offered the opportunity to submit bids and did not. There is also no added shipping paid by the department for getting them from Australia, it is the same as you and I buying a car from a dealer that was manufactured in Mexico. Sheriff Maha is not wasting tax dollars and ignoring local businesses, for the most he has few options on the purchase and still managed to do so under budget. This is really a non issue

Feb 15, 2012, 10:34am Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Agree Jeff and maybe the negative viewers should focus less on where they are made; focus on the fact they are American companies.

Feb 15, 2012, 10:46am Permalink
Lisa Falkowski

For those that enlightened me as to why a police car should be manufactured elsewhere, thank you. I did not know that. I am appreciative that the work stayed in NYS, and never indicated otherwise. For those who do not respect that we all are entitled to our opinions, please keep it to yourself. I respect the fact that you have yours, and in light of the new information you've provided, I agree. Be an adult.

Feb 15, 2012, 11:24am Permalink
Jeff Allen

John, I'm not sure people were being negative for the sake of negativity, I just think a lot of people are under the impression that
A.) police vehicle are just standard civilian vehicles with modifications. The police vehicle industry has become an entity unto itself as requirements for their versatility and reliability have increased.
B.) local sheriffs can purchase out of stock vehicles from local dealers to cut costs when they are bound to a bidding process
C.) somehow American manufacturers (GM) didn't drop the ball and allow our police vehicles to be produced overseas. I think our police vehicles should be 100% American made and the Big 3 should endeavor to make that a reality.

Feb 15, 2012, 11:28am Permalink
John Woodworth JR

Yeah Jeff, it is about perception and how we view people's comments. The problem with chats sites is we do not hear one another's tone or see body language. So, my assumption is they are being negative in a sense. Lisa's statement is correct we all have our own opinions. Just like her opinion that one's opinion is not being an adult. Yes, there are US factories that could produce these vehicles. However, maybe Ford has an overstock of these vehicles on the Australian factory lot. My negative comment was more on the line of be happy they are American vehicles and not Land Rover, Toyota, Merecedes, etc... Many of our American vehicles are built in other countries. Just as Japan has vehicle factories here that employee thousands of Americans.

Feb 15, 2012, 12:04pm Permalink

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