"We have reviewed the needs of our public safety department and we are certain that this increase will allow us to ensure the safety of our citizens -- and our officers," Mayor Ravenstahl said. "We are committed to giving our public safety employees the necessary equipment to do their jobs."
The funds will allow for an expansion of the current fleet, which will grow from 278 to approximately 300 over the next year. This represents the largest improvement in the police fleet in many years.
"We are once again overcoming inherited problems," the Mayor said. "We are putting our officers in new cars again and seeing to the safety of each community and every resident."
In addition to the vehicle purchases, the funds will replace all existing Public Safety motorcycles, sidecars and accessories with 2008/2009 models.
The decision to purchase the vehicles and equipment was made following an assessment of the existing public safety fleet by Public Safety Director Michael Huss, Director of Operations Arthur Victor and Finance Director Scott Kunka.
The final allocation of dollars was made by the Equipment Leasing Authority, which is comprised of Director Huss, Director Kunka, Public Works Director Guy Costa, Councilman Dan Deasy and Council Finance Director Bill Urbanic.
