The Georgetown Police Department is always seeking to inform its residents about its operations and equipment, and we are committed to responsiveness whenever anyone has questions about what we do and how we do it!
Recently, a resident asked why GTPD has “a new” Ford pickup truck. Many of us harken back to the days of Crown Victoria “police cars” that roamed the streets of most communities for decades. When the “Crown Vic” was retired in 2011, it opened the floodgates, with all of the American automakers suddenly seeing an opening for the first time since the 1980s!
The Georgetown Police Department is committed to responsible, cost-conscious choices in everything we do—especially when it comes to vehicles funded by taxpayers. Generally speaking, we keep our police cruisers on the road for much longer than the average law enforcement agency, and when they age out of daily patrol use, they coast out their careers as reserve cars or “errand” vehicles, making trips to court or out of town meetings and events, leaving our front-line cruisers in town as much as possible.
✅ How our Ford Pickup Truck Came to Be
In October 2021, we experienced a total-loss cruiser crash involving a 2012 Ford Explorer after a deer strike. That vehicle was already 9 years old and served as an administrative cruiser—used for training, court runs, etc..
Nationwide, the average lifespan of a police cruiser is approximately 3-5 years, depending on mileage, so at nine years old, this vehicle was already on its last legs.
- Insurance payout: Approx. $38,700 after deductible
- The Department decided to purchase a four-wheel drive pickup truck using this insurance payout to help us better serve the town. Why?
- To move two radar speed trailers multiple times per month
- To tow our police boat and equipment trailer
- Previously, Lt. Scott Hatch was using his personal pickup to handle these tasks, as the department did not have a proper towing vehicle
Additional outfitting costs included:
- Police-specific Modifications: ~$4,000 (lights, equipment, etc.) Most of the police lights were repurposed from other vehicles and installed by our staff, including Officer Dechene and Lt. Hatch.
- Tonneau cover: $75, personally sourced and installed by Lt. Hatch (seller even gave a $25 discount when he learned it was for the police! Thank you seller!)
- Computer mount and software: Covered by grant funding, no local tax dollars used
This vehicle has since been used in:
- General patrol duties
- Adverse weather/snow patrol
- “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns
- Speed enforcement and distracted driving details
- Outfitted with road closure signs and numerous cones for emergency road closure deployment
- Administrative duties
💰 Total out-of-pocket cost to taxpayers: approximately $5,000.
This truck has been an incredibly versatile and cost-effective addition to our fleet.
🚗 A Look Back: Dodge Charger Police Vehicles
- In 2012, we purchased one Dodge Charger as a possible replacement for our aging fleet of Ford Crown Victorias (the “Crown Vic” was discontinued in 2011).
- The model price of the Charger was similar to the Crown Vic at the time.
- However, over time, repair costs for the Charger were significantly higher than anticipated.
- In response, the department transitioned to the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor, which remains our primary cruiser model today. (The “Explorer” Police Interceptor, like the Crown Victoria, won out nationwide. Today is makes up about two-thirds of all new police cruiser purchases in the U.S.)
- The Charger remained in service until 2018 when it was phased out
We always strive to make decisions that are fiscally responsible, functional, and in the best interest of public safety. Thank you for your continued support, questions, and engagement—it helps us do better every day.
If you have further questions, we’re happy to answer them.
— Chief David Sedgwick, Georgetown Police Department