Published: July 15, 2008 03:38 am ShareThisPrintThis
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This cruiser will catch your eye Groveland's new police car features special lights, is good on gas
By Sara Codair
Correspondent
GROVELAND - A slick black-and-white paint job, blue flashing lights and 18 miles per gallon are features that led acting police Chief Robert Kirmelewicz to buy a 2008 Dodge Charger for about $23,000 as an addition to the police cruiser fleet.
"As a new chief, I wanted to do something to boost morale," said Kirmelewicz as a reason for buying a new cruiser.
With gasoline close to or topping $4 a gallon, he thought the Charger would be a more economical choice than the traditional Ford Crown Victoria.
"It has a feature that allows it to drop from eight to four cylinders when idling or cruising around town, resulting in better fuel efficiency," Kirmelewicz said. "The Charger gets 18 city miles per gallon where the Crown Victoria gets 12 miles per gallon."
Kirmelewicz said he had looked at more fuel-efficient 6-cylinder cruisers, but found they did not hold up well under the rigorous driving conditions a patrol vehicle is subjected to.
In addition to better fuel economy, Kirmelewicz said the Charger is outfitted with special flashing lights. It cost $5,000 to outfit the car with them, but they will last five to six times longer than regular lights.
He said the Charger also will be more visible than a Crown Victoria. It is painted black and white instead of solid white with blue lettering.
"It doesn't blend in like the solid-colored cruisers," Kirmelewicz said. "More visibility means less crime."
He said another reason for the black-and-white paint job is that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security eventually wants all police departments within the United States to have their fleets uniformly black and white.
Over the next couple of months, Kirmelewicz said he plans to have all Groveland's other cruisers painted black and white as well.
"This conversion will be of no cost to the town," said Kirmelewicz, explaining grant money will be used for the work.
He thanked Tony Bettencourt, the mechanic who set up the lights and sirens on the car, and his staff.
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Acting Groveland police Chief Robert Kirmelewicz stands next to the new Dodge Charger the Groveland Police Department purchased.
Sara Codair / Staff photo
1
This cruiser will catch your eye Groveland's new police car features special lights, is good on gas
By Sara Codair
Correspondent
GROVELAND - A slick black-and-white paint job, blue flashing lights and 18 miles per gallon are features that led acting police Chief Robert Kirmelewicz to buy a 2008 Dodge Charger for about $23,000 as an addition to the police cruiser fleet.
"As a new chief, I wanted to do something to boost morale," said Kirmelewicz as a reason for buying a new cruiser.
With gasoline close to or topping $4 a gallon, he thought the Charger would be a more economical choice than the traditional Ford Crown Victoria.
"It has a feature that allows it to drop from eight to four cylinders when idling or cruising around town, resulting in better fuel efficiency," Kirmelewicz said. "The Charger gets 18 city miles per gallon where the Crown Victoria gets 12 miles per gallon."
Kirmelewicz said he had looked at more fuel-efficient 6-cylinder cruisers, but found they did not hold up well under the rigorous driving conditions a patrol vehicle is subjected to.
In addition to better fuel economy, Kirmelewicz said the Charger is outfitted with special flashing lights. It cost $5,000 to outfit the car with them, but they will last five to six times longer than regular lights.
He said the Charger also will be more visible than a Crown Victoria. It is painted black and white instead of solid white with blue lettering.
"It doesn't blend in like the solid-colored cruisers," Kirmelewicz said. "More visibility means less crime."
He said another reason for the black-and-white paint job is that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security eventually wants all police departments within the United States to have their fleets uniformly black and white.
Over the next couple of months, Kirmelewicz said he plans to have all Groveland's other cruisers painted black and white as well.
"This conversion will be of no cost to the town," said Kirmelewicz, explaining grant money will be used for the work.
He thanked Tony Bettencourt, the mechanic who set up the lights and sirens on the car, and his staff.
Acting Groveland police Chief Robert Kirmelewicz stands next to the new Dodge Charger the Groveland Police Department purchased.
Sara Codair / Staff photo
