Richmond City Council gives green light to new police vehicle – The Voice

Richmond Police Chief Tom Costello is pictured at a city council meeting on July 1. (Courtesy of RichmondTV/YouTube)

Richmond Police services will soon be modernized after the City Council recently approved a new vehicle and new computers for the police department.

During a regular meeting on July 1, the Richmond City Council initially approved the purchase of a $48,761 2025 Ford Police Explorer Interceptor SUV with required additional options. Police Chief Tom Costello said the price was reduced by about $10. Council documents dated July 1 show the offer includes a 5-year Premium Care warranty.

“The Police Department’s budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year includes the purchase of a 2025 Ford Police Explorer vehicle. The proposed new patrol vehicle will mirror the look and features of the current SUV. This will replace the last of the 2015-model patrol vehicles still in use,” said City Manager Jon Moore.

Costello said he expects the vehicle will be the last one purchased next fiscal year. The vehicle will be purchased from Lunghamer Ford of Owosso. The cost will be charged to a line item in the police department’s equipment procurement fund. Council records dated July 1 show Lunghamer Ford of Owosso has the state bid from Macomb County, MiDEAL.

“We don’t have any purchasing regulation requirements because this is already happening at the state level,” Moore said.

City council records show that the city has purchased older model Fords through Lunghamer Ford of Owosso since 2011.

Mayor Tim Rix said the issue of purchasing a new police vehicle was discussed in workshop meetings before the budget workshop began. During the budget workshop, there was discussion of staying with the Explorer model because the equipment on the current vehicle could be transferred to the new vehicle. Warren-based Canfield Equipment will make the necessary upgrades. Once the delivery date of the new vehicle is confirmed, the council will receive a future request with detailed cost estimates.

Also on July 1, the Richmond City Council approved a proposal to purchase and install Dell computers at the police department. The approved request included that the computers be purchased for a total of $21,704, including installation.

City council documents show that the city has previously purchased computer models through Dell Computers and that the current offer includes five years of on-site technical support. The documents also show that 11 computers, 22 monitors and 11 sound bars will be purchased from Dell and installed by Porter and Black.

The costs will be charged to the relevant items in the funds for the procurement of police equipment and communications equipment.

“The FY24-25 budget also included new computers for the police and communications departments,” Moore said.

Current computers are reaching the end of their lifespan, as they are eight or nine years old and run 24 hours a day, Moore said.

“The IT company the police are working with, Porter and Black, again priced it through the government tender from MiDEAL and Dell Computers and then added an installation fee of $1,800. That would replace all of the police computers and communications systems,” Moore said.

Nicole Tuttle is a freelance reporter for The Voice.

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