Funding OK’d for new police cruiser purchase

After a secondhand police vehicle they purchased and were using from another community became inoperable, the Greenfield Police Department received approval to purchase a second Chevrolet Tahoe to add to its fleet.

During its Jan. 27 meeting, the Greenfield City Council authorized spending no more than $80,000 on a 2026 cruiser from Karl Chevrolet.

The city considered leasing versus purchasing the vehicle, but Public Safety Committee member Jeff Clayton recommended buying, saying it would be more cost-effective in the long run.

“In my opinion, we’re not going to throw $22,000 out the window,” Clayton said, referencing the cost difference between the two options.

Council members reviewed interest rates from local banks and said the base cost of the vehicle is $53,764.20. Some equipment from the previous cruiser can be transferred to the new vehicle, which would reduce additional expenses.

“We don’t have the exact amount because we have parts we can take off the other car that they can use, and then there are lights and everything,” Clayton said.

Fellow Public Safety Committee member Rod McMorran said the $80,000 estimate represents a worst-case scenario in which all equipment would need to be purchased new.

“Worst case, if we were to have to buy everything, was $80,000,” McMorran said. “I think we just want to use that number so everybody knows it’s not going to exceed that.”

The previous cruiser will be sold online, with proceeds returning to the city.

Council members also agreed the new cruiser will receive decals, noting that the department’s other Tahoe is unmarked.

City leaders added that the department currently has open police officer positions and emphasized that modern, reliable equipment plays an important role in recruitment.