By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
9/18/08

(previous)
“When you see a black and white cruiser, you’ll realize it’s a municipal cruiser,” he said.
It will take a few years before all the cars are updated. Wells said only new cars will get the new treatment, though the department may get free paint job from students at Blue Hills Regional Technical School for its prison wagon. This year, due to budget limitations, the department purchased two new vehicles instead of the traditional four.
The police department put together the style through Municipal Graphics in Wrentham. Wells said his staff chose from three or four different versions to make sure it would be unique.
Six cars patrol the town’s streets at optimal staffing levels, along with one Ford Expedition SUV for the shift supervisor.
In addition to the patrol cars, the department has two additional SUVs for bad weather, as well as unmarked cars and detective cars. In the past, detective cars were repainted old cruisers. Now the department uses different styles for more effective surveillance and to save gas (the cruisers have eight-cylinder engines), according to Wells.
The MPD’s fleet totals 20 vehicles, five motorcycles, two electric cars and one off-road ATV.
The cruisers are basically on the road 24 hours a day and are expected to last three years.
“There’s a significant amount of maintenance that goes on,” said Wells. “Usually by the fourth year you’re looking to replace them.”
Wells said a new cruiser can cost up to $40,000 after including in the computer (about $7,000), the radio ($4,000), a radar gun ($3,500) and various other emergency equipment.
“But the car is the most conspicuous form of government in the community,” he said. “It never stops, 24/7.”