You see them all over town, police officers serving and protecting our community in their black and white vehicles. As it turns out, they should qualify for frequent driver miles, with the entire fleet driving more than 423,000 miles each year.
But what does it take to keep the Durango Police Department on the road?
Tom Kramer, facilities and fleet manager for the city, said maintaining the sophisticated technology installed in most of the cars – cameras, radios and data-communications equipment – is the biggest challenge.
But the cars themselves require a fair share of tender loving care.
Kramer and his normal crew of five mechanics are responsible for about 280 vehicles that belong to the city, including transit buses, trolleys and public works vehicles such as snowplows. In addition to running the garage, Kramer also oversees a warehouse full of parts and other vehicle maintenance supplies.
The Durango Police Department’s vehicles are split into two categories: those used in police operations, primarily patrol, and those dedicated to administration, including detectives, emergency management and investigations.
The department’s 23 patrol vehicles, primarily Chevrolet Tahoes and Ford Crown Victorias – no longer in production – or Chevy Caprice sedans, are driven a total of 278,000 miles annually. That’s the equivalent of driving around the world 11 times.
All that driving burns 22,000 gallons of gasoline per year, which cost city taxpayers about $95,000 in 2014. The yearly maintenance cost per vehicle is about $5,100, which includes car washes, oil changes and new tires. The vehicles receive oil changes an average of 11 times per year per vehicle. Patrol vehicles are replaced every three years.
The police department has 15 administrative vehicles, including Chevrolet Impalas and unmarked four-wheel-drive Tahoes. They accrue 145,000 miles annually, or enough to make 26 round trips from Los Angeles to New York City, according to Mapquest.
Administrative vehicles burn about 7,500 gallons of fuel, or about $26,000 worth in 2014. Annual maintenance costs are about $1,900 for the Impalas and $4,000 for the Tahoes. They have a lifespan of five to seven years, depending on usage.
Between all the vehicles, the garage changes out about 50 tires annually.
None of this takes into account the price tag for purchasing and maintaining the technology found inside most vehicles.
Julie Brown, the finance director for the city, said technology definitely presents maintenance challenges, with records software, data-communications equipment and in-car computer systems at the top of the list.
Just staying on top of rapidly changing technology requires frequent coordination between the information technology department and police department.
“They work to keep up-to-date on any advances in technology and what needs to be implemented to improve the officers’ communications abilities while on patrol,” Brown said.
The big change in 2014 was switching to Verizon cellular for data communications, important when Central Dispatch is sending call information to a patrol officer’s computer, when officers are pulling up maps to get to a scene quickly or requesting information about a driver or warrant. In 2014, the department completed the first of a three-year-phased program to upgrade technologies, at a cost of $150,000 per year, according to Brown.
“We did a side-by-side test of AT&T and Verizon when we decided we needed to go cellular for better coverage because of our mountainous terrain,” Lt. Ray Shupe said. “Verizon was hands-down better for in-town reception.”
For Cpl. Nick Stasi, the technology connects him to the world.
“This is my office,” he said, pointing to a computer connected to the Internet and the console that allows him to use two radio systems, one digital and one backup analog VHF radio.
“Police in the old days didn’t have any of this,” said Stasi, who pointed out the radio operating equipment that resides in his Caprice’s trunk. “I can pull up maps of anywhere in La Plata County, talk to Durango from Cortez, have cameras to record what’s happening in the back seat or in front of the car.”
The cars are only one-half of the equation; the other half is the drivers.
Everyone is required to take a driving class once a year, Sgt. Geary Parsons said. The class includes defensive driving, safe driving and pursuit techniques.
abutler@durangoherald.com
