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Posted by: kwflatbed

By Ryan Hutton
The Berkshire Eagle

ADAMS, Mass. — Selectman Edward MacDonald and Police Chief Donald Poirot faced off at the Selectmen's meeting over the future of the police department's fleet of cruisers — with MacDonald insisting on switching to the slightly cheaper and more fuel-efficient Chevrolet Impala and Poirot wanting to stick with the tried and tested Ford Crown Victoria.

By night's end, the board — with the exception of Joseph R. Dean Jr. who recused himself because his son is an Adams police officer — voted 2-1 to purchase two new Impalas for the department. Selectman Donald Sommer cast the "no" vote.

At the beginning of the meeting on Tuesday, Poirot explained to the board his reasons for wanting to stick with the Crown Victoria.

"I just want to stay with what's been proven through and through," he said. "I've never been called to task as far as what's being purchased for the town. We do it under state contract. I wish we would have had this discussion before I came before the board the last time."

Poirot had already been before the board weeks earlier to get approval for $50,000 for two new Crown Victorias as part of the standard cycle of new cruisers. The law enforcement trust fund would kick in an additional $20,000. The board initially approved the funds until it found out about the less expensive Chevy option.

The Selectmen had earlier thought there would be a $10,000 savings for each cruiser, but Poirot informed the board that the savings would be more akin to $3,000 for a V6 and $2,000 for a V8. He also said gas mileage in the Chevy was only three miles per gallon better.

MacDonald insisted that the Chevy was the obvious choice for the town which is already strapped for cash.
"I'm looking at what's in the best interest of the town," he said. "We have a major crisis the way the state is financing the town. If we don't look at every single penny, every single operational expense, then we're not doing our jobs.

"I talk to people that do this every single day, that are in pursuits, everything like that," MacDonald continued. "They all came back and said dollar for dollar, this was the best vehicle to buy. We buy a six-cylinder, do what we got to do for the town, it saves gas."
Poirot said he had done his own research and came to slightly different conclusions.

"I also talked to police officers, I've talked to chiefs of police," he said. "In fact, I had a meeting today and I naturally brought up this discussion and they told me they're putting in new transmissions and new front wheels ... "

"More people have died in a Ford than in a Chevy," MacDonald interrupted.

Poirot also explained that the differences when switching between the Ford and Chevy went beyond initial cost and gas mileage.

"What I take into consideration always is, naturally, the best interest of the town," the chief said.

Wire Service

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Posted by: HousingCop

Quote:

"More people have died in a Ford than in a Chevy," MacDonald interrupted.

Maybe because 95% of the PD's in America use the Ford Crown Vic. Figures lie, and liars figure. Perfect example is this asshats assertion of so called facts. McDonald should stick to being a selectman and leave the Chief to administer to his Police Department the way he sees fit.

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Posted by: Delta784

Hint to the Adams PD; now that Spring is here, you're very likely to see that black dog that always runs in front of police cruisers causing the officer to swerve, lose control, crash, and total the vehicle.

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Posted by: resqjyw0

Quote:

Originally Posted by HousingCop Maybe because 95% of the PD's in America use the Ford Crown Vic. Figures lie, and liars figure. Perfect example is this asshats assertion of so called facts. McDonald should stick to being a selectman and leave the Chief to administer to his Police Department the way he sees fit.

Exactly! Last I heard it was 85% of the police vehicles in the U.S. are CV's. Nonetheless, it is obvious the figures are skewed toward the CV as far as the deaths go since the use of the CV is by far more widespread than the Impala.

Overall, the Crown Vic has, for a long time, provided law enforcement with a better vehicle and the Charger isn't all it is cracked up to be. Generally, one of the weakest links in GM's light-duty vehicles is the transmission and it has been for quite some time. But with a 5-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, who can argue with that over Ford's 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. The Impalas come with Pirelli tires which I believe are far superior to the Goodyear Eagle RSA's. I'm not sure why someone is having trouble with those tires.

The areas where the Impala falls short are that it is FWD, only offered in a V6 and I don't think they provide as much space as the CVPI does. Chevy needs to make the Impala a RWD vehicle with an option of AWD. Put the 303 HP 5.3L engine in it that gets the same mileage (17/25) as the 250 HP 4.6L Crown Vic engine. Make it bigger, similar to the size of the Crown Vic. On top of that, put a better built transmission in it to take the abuse of police driving and I think Chevy could take over the market with time.

Chevy has everything they need to make a better vehicle than the Crown Vic. It just seems they don't want to do it. I think the only problem holding them back is that if they do, it will end up being a more expensive vehicle than the Crown Vic and in the end the Crown Vic still wins. Plus the Crown Vic has a good reputation standing behind it.

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Posted by: j809

Who cares what it is, its a brand new cruiser, has to be better than the old one it s replacing.

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Posted by: JeffC

Quote:

Originally Posted by j809 Who cares what it is, its a brand new cruiser, has to be better than the old one it s replacing.

so youd have no problem with a toyota prius cruiser?

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Posted by: JMB1977

Its better that a Volvo!

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Posted by: kwflatbed

I bought two at the auction last year both 100% with under 6K
and we can not even give them away,there has been 0 intrest
in them even by the small southern departments want no part of
them.
We have no problem moving the CVI's that we buy,in fact we have a problem getting enough of them.

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Posted by: BlackOps

Note to Adams guys; just let your sleds run 24/7... never shut them off... stand by for those fuel bills.

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Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackOps Note to Adams guys; just let your sleds run 24/7... never shut them off... stand by for those fuel bills.

Also don't forget to leave the A/C on Maximum at all times. Just close the vents and put on a jacket if you get cold.

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Posted by: minks8938

The cruiser I have in my department is a 2006 Impala. The car has pretty good pick up for a V6, but there is ZERO room in them. With a cage and the center console I have no room.... Good thing I don't have to sit in the back... All passengers have to sit sideways to fit. Over all it is way to small. Gas mileage is okay, but I would take a Vic over this car anyday!!!!

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