Crime & Safety

Police Committee Debates Squad Car Models

Panel members recommend Chevy Tahoe to Darien City Council.

The Administrative and Finance Committee voted during its February budget talks to include in the 2012 budget the leases for for the .

Now it’s time to finalize exactly what model those cars will be.

The City Council’s  voted Thursday to support the staff recommendation to go with Chevy Tahoes built specifically for police work for 10 of the 13 vehicles. The department also wishes to purchase two passenger vehicles and one four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle.

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That recommendation will go to , which will vote to accept or reject it at the May 16 meeting.

The Ford Crown Victoria, which has been the standard police vehicle for the past 13 years, is in its last model year.

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A local dealership has 14 remaining Crown Vics, with a few more arriving soon, said Deputy Chief John Cooper.

Over the life of the lease, it would cost the city about $218,780 for the 10 cars, according to a memo from Chief Robert Pavelchik.

Ten Tahoes would cost about $248,200 over the course of a four- or five-year lease, or about $29,000 more than the Crown Vics, the memo said. That would average out to about $2,900 per car over the lease’s lifespan.

Despite the cost savings with the Crown Vic, Pavelchik and Cooper said they would recommend the Tahoe for the replacement cars.

The Tahoe has newer technology, a better warranty and more safety features, Pavelchik said. Police departments in Chicago, Woodridge and Lemont, among others, use the Tahoe, he said.

With mileage of 15 miles per gallon in city to the Crown Vic’s 14, gas consumption between the two vehicles is similar, Pavelchik said. Cooper added that the Tahoes would have a higher resale value when they ended their useful life with the police department.

“Please do not fall victim to ‘SUVitis,’ as the Tahoe PPV is not a gas-guzzling, extravagant vehicle but a legitimate police work tool,” Pavelchik wrote in the memo.

Ward 3 Alderman John Poteraske asked how comfortable the Tahoes would be since he said he had heard complaints about the two SUVs already in the police fleet.

Pavelchik explained that those two vehicles were four-wheel drive SUVs, while the Tahoes would be two-wheel drive.

If City Council votes to lease the Crown Vics instead, Cooper said he believed Ford would support the cars through the end of their warranties, even though it has discontinued production of the model.

Because there are so few left, Cooper said the dealer he spoke with might not have the Crown Vics left by the time City Council votes on the issue.

Darien Park District Commissioner Jim Tikalsky spoke during the meeting and said the Police Committee needs to consider the excessive wear and tear police vehicles experience during their regular use.

“If you’re purchasing new right now, go with latest technology, and that’s the Tahoe,” he said. “That’s where it’s at right now.”

Poteraske and Ward 6 Alderman Sylvia McIvor voted to recommend that the City Council approve the lease of the Tahoes. Ward 4 Alderman Joerg Seifert abstained.

The request will be discussed under new business at the next City Council meeting.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.