Redands Police Get New Rides; New Patrol Vehicles Are Modified Ford Explorers

Redlands police have begun phasing in new patrol vehicles, with the recent delivery of two new SUVs.

The vehicles-- which are Ford Explorers modified for police use and marketed under the name "Interceptor"-- were delivered to the Redlands Police Department this month, according to Spokesman Carl Baker.  Another 10 are on order, and expected to be delivered soon, along with two Chevrolet Caprices.

"The vehicles will replace a number of aging patrol vehicles in the department’s fleet, many with more than five years of continuous service and more than 100,000 miles," Baker said in a press statement announcing the new equipment.  "Out of 42 vehicles used for patrol, community policing and the department’s Multiple Enforcement Team, 19 were no longer in compliance with industry standards due to their age and mileage."

According to Baker, the total cost to repair many of those aging vehicle was actually more than what they originally cost.  

A breakdown of these new purchases was provided as follows:

• The total cost for each Interceptor, including tax and license fees, was $25,333.79. 
• Outfitting each vehicle cost an additional $5,834.01 because the department was able to reuse much of the equipment from the vehicles being replaced. 
• Cost for the Caprice was $30,491.06 with additional outfitting costs of $10,652.03. The outfitting costs for the Caprice were higher because much of the older equipment could not be retrofitted to the Caprice.