New cars on horizon for GPD

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- The city a step closer to getting some much-needed upgrades to its aging fleet of police cars.

At its monthly meeting Tuesday night, the Greencastle Common Council approved the first reading of a resolution authorizing additional appropriations to the annual budget. $91,000 of this would go toward new police equipment.

The money in question comes from the cumulative capital improvement fund and would be transferred to equipment, along with $9,000 going toward the LaserFiche server and program.

GPD Chief Tom Sutherlin has been in talks with Putnam County Sheriff Steve Fenwick and Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter about help with funding new GPD cars from the county's forfeiture fund.

The county has agreed to pay for three cars and three 800 MHz radios at a cost of approximately $70,000. The city would then need to pay for the remainder of the equipment for outfitting the vehicles.

Additionally, the city plans to purchase two additional cars and their equipment from the money transferred from CCI.

Sutherlin said an extensive study by an intern from DePauw last year had revealed the Dodge Charger to be the most economical choice for the city to select. Additionally, the new vehicles will have V6 engines rather than the V8s in the current Crown Victorias.

Council members were strongly behind the move, noting it was a needed upgrade that would save the city in the coming years in fuel and repair costs.

"I think it's great we have the opportunity to get the cars for the police. I think it's much needed," said councilor T.J. Smith.

The LaserFiche system toward which the additional $9,000 would go is in the interest of expanding the capabilities of the city's Web site. Clerk-treasurer Teresa Glenn explained the new system would involve scanning in the city's collection of public documents and making them available online in a searchable form.

Once completed, the system will make it possible for documents such as ordinance and resolutions to be accessed from the Web site.

More information from Tuesday's meeting will be available in Thursday's Banner Graphic.

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  • More tax dollars down the crapper. The cars they haver are good enough. Hey lets use the extra money on a YMCA???

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 2:53 AM
  • The cars they have are not all right. They need to be replaced before they break down and create a response delay or injury to an officer.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 6:05 AM
  • Had one break down last night by Hopkins and Rector funeral home, saw it being loaded up on Jerry's flatbed. The fleet is too old and Maintaing them will exceed what it cost to purchase new ones very shortly.

    -- Posted by CastlePirate on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 6:26 AM
  • Im all for getting new police cars. Its not a waste of money. I also agree that we need some sort of YMCA type center in town, but its going to take the community as a whole to accomplish that. It shouldnt be up to the city to pay for the whole thing. If we could get enough people interested we could start raising funds. I know there has been talk of some sort of community bldg. at the sports park.Im willing to help get this going if enough people want it.

    -- Posted by jester7373 on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 6:27 AM
  • Most of there current cars look like junk. No hubcaps and wore out from what I have seen.

    -- Posted by nascar_Couple on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 6:40 AM
  • Just out of curiosity, what makes a vehicle "not all right"? Is it excessive mileage? Lack of maintenance? Improper operation? It has been discussed many times, how much of the mileage on these cars is personal versus patrol miles? The new chargers will be worn out in 3 years. It is a continuous thing.

    -- Posted by exhoosier2 on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 7:00 AM
  • Thats the funny thing about police cars. They are driven on patrol not like fire trucks that sit in the bay until they go out on a call. It looks to me like the city cars are kept until they are on their last leg and then maintenence costs become prohibative. The city cars have been strictly restricted concerning off duty driving since the drastic rise in gas prices a few years ago.

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 8:16 AM
  • New cars maybe but why Chargers. Why not something that isn't so expensive so money can be used for other things as well. How about putting some funds to good use like on the citizens of your county for problem youths and such......

    -- Posted by Innocent on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 10:27 AM
  • Buying a car is like like buying a pair of shoes. If you are going to wear a pair once a week to church or to take a walk once in a while go cheap. If you are going to be on your feet all day using them hard day in day out go with the more expensive higher quality pair. Buy a cheap car it won't last 130,000 miles of abuse.

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 11:20 AM
  • Consolidate with the sheriff's department they have plenty of cars.

    -- Posted by worrieddaddy on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 1:44 PM
  • Hey 1stAmendment-How can we afford a YMCA? Get real, and let me guess, you want it to have a pool as well. This city has plenty of outlets for children and adults to be active!! Or, are you looking for a baby sitting service. Come on, Those officers put themselves on the line for us every day, they deserve to be outfitted well!!!!

    -- Posted by idiot on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 2:13 PM
  • GPD's cars are worn out. I'm just not sure about a 6 cylinder to use in the city. That seems like that would put a lot of stress on the engine over the long haul. A lot of agencies are going to the Charger just because it's cheaper than the Crown Vic from Ford. Sometimes cheaper isn't the way to go.

    As far as a YMCA, there have been numerous opportunities to use large vacant buildings in town, but no one has done anything about it.

    -- Posted by purple_heat on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 9:34 PM
  • "Had one break down last night by Hopkins and Rector funeral home, saw it being loaded up on Jerry's flatbed. The fleet is too old and Maintaing them will exceed what it cost to purchase new ones very shortly."

    Interesting enough, sources indicate this car was not even one scheduled to be replaced.

    The majority of the cars that you see have well in excess of 100,000 miles on them...comparable to 200-225,000 miles on a typical auto.

    They should have been replaced long ago.

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Wed, Apr 14, 2010, at 11:58 PM
  • What outlets do youths have in this town? Hanging out at the old Marsh parking lot picking fights and smoking pot and if your 21 or older going to these shotty bars in town and risking the chance of a PI or DUI? I admit it would take almost the entire communtity to commit to a YMCA but it would be worth it. Just think children and adults could go there and excercise and play sports. Heck we could have indoor basketball leagues which would help improve the skills of the up and coming. Greencastle could finally compete for a state championship which would create a positive influence for the whole community. How many police cars do we need in this small community? You have the State, county and local police dispatches all within a 10 mile radius.

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Thu, Apr 15, 2010, at 12:29 PM
  • Kids in this county, not just Greencastle, haven't had outlets for anything to do in over 30 years. Go back to the early '80's when kids hung out in the Shultz's lot (new Kroger) and cruised between the old McDonald's (across from new Kroger) and the Arby's (used to be Hardee's and Burger Chef). A YMCA is NOT going to be a fix all for the youth of this county. If a Y was to come to town, it should be for ALL of Putnam County and not just Greencastle. As far as the number of police cars in the community. The answer is easy - the same number as the number officers. Plus you need to have a few spares for reserve officers and in case one needs to go in the shop for anything. The location of dispatch centers has nothing to do with cars and officers on the streets. If you really want to get a YMCA in this county, go to churches, community groups like Rotary and Optimists, and govt. officials to help get it done. Maybe help find a grant that would help fund it. It's easy to sit back and say "something must be done." It's something entirely different to actually try make it happen. There's three categories in this world. 1 - Some that say something has to happen. 2 - Some that make it happen. 3 - Some say "what the heck just happened? Which category are you in?

    -- Posted by purple_heat on Thu, Apr 15, 2010, at 1:39 PM
  • For the people wanting outlets for the children and youth. How about sending them to church most have a lot of activities for the teens and young adults!

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Fri, Apr 16, 2010, at 9:43 AM
  • 1st Amend- I was born and raised in this town. I didn't spend my time in parking lots. Why do you need to workout "indoors"? I see lots of sidewalks and green space all around town, basketball courts in the park, and guess what, they are free. As far as basketball tournaments, they have those going on all the time, ask around. The biggest influence on our children is their parents!!!!! My steered me in the right direction, how about yours?

    -- Posted by idiot on Fri, Apr 16, 2010, at 11:13 AM
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