The Boston College Police Department (BCPD) has replaced part of its cruiser fleet with two new Dodge Chargers, and it plans to add two more by next fall.
Ford, which manufactured many of BCPD's current cruisers, planned to stop producing the Crown Victoria in '08. Recently, though, production has been extended to '09.
"Once we field-tested the [Dodge Charger], it far exceeded the Ford," said BCPD Chief Robert Morse.
"It is also a little more economical," he added. The Charger has an eight-cylinder engine that shuts down two or four cylinders while at cruising speeds to increase engine efficiency.
The BCPD is allowed two changes in its fleet every fiscal year. The University purchases the vehicles, which are traded in to the vendor MHQ Vehicles, which resells the vehicles. On average, the BCPD replaces a vehicle after three years of use due to the mileage and wear and tear that multiple drivers and 24/7 operations put on the car.
Presently, the BCPD has six marked cruisers in its fleet, two of which are the new Dodge Chargers. Two are the traditional Ford Crown Victorias, and one is a Ford Expedition.
The BCPD has also replaced the Eagle Escort van, formerly a Ford Econoline Van, with a Chrysler Town and Country to "better serve the community and provide safer and more economical escorts," Morse said.
The additional replacement vehicles will be from the Dodge family and one of them is likely to be a pickup truck to assist the department with cone-and-barrel transportation, Morse said.
Police vehicles must be strongly built to stand up to the rigor of the job. Mileage quickly builds up on the vehicles. The BCPD only considers vehicles with heavy transmissions and tough, reliable cooling and electrical systems.
BCPD won an award for cruiser and motorcycle design from Law Enforcement Magazine in the past. The department was awarded second place for cruiser design and third place for motorcycle design. Morse plans to enter the new Dodge Charger in the competition again this year.
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