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State awards Springfield new police cruiser

2012 Dodge Charger the latest addition to city's arsenal.

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By Mark McGregor, Staff Writer 10:10 PM Saturday, January 21, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — The city’s police division was one of five agencies among 20 hopefuls statewide to receive a new Dodge Charger patrol vehicle.

The 2012 Charger was awarded Dec. 22 by the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services.

The cruiser and accessories are valued at more than $24,400. It will be assigned to the Springfield Police Division’s traffic bureau and will be used for high-visibility operations like drunken driving checkpoints, and in daily duty and emergency calls, Police Chief Stephen Moody said.

Additional accessories requested for the cruiser include flashing warning lights, a vinyl rear bench seat, heavy duty black vinyl floor covering and a two-tone paint scheme.

The division is coming up on its normal cruiser replacement cycle. The Charger could allow it to replace one more cruiser than previously planned.

With a $150,000 vehicle budget, Moody hopes to buy and outfit six new vehicles to replace its aging Ford Crown Victoria fleet. The Charger could replace a seventh.

But if costs to outfit the new vehicles exceed budget, the division will have to purchase five, Moody said.

“I could use 10 new cruisers, but that’s not doable in this economic time,” Moody said. “We’re very cognizant of the idea that we have to be efficient with the taxpayers’ money.”

The division is in the process of deciding whether it will replace its Crown Victoria fleet with Chargers, Chevrolet Impalas or Ford Interceptors. Ford has discontinued its Crown Victoria.

The city received the Charger in part due to the efforts of the policed division to keep the city’s streets safe, Moody said.

The force has focused on different traffic corridors in the community that present problems, Moody said, including speed, aggressive driving and areas with a high number of accidents.

But, he said, “It’s not just about enforcement, but talking to people and being visible throughout the year.”

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