Shreveport city leaders are moving forward with plans to purchase another round of new police cruisers as the department struggles with an aging fleet. Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark told members of the city council that several current patrol cars have been pulled from service, either due to age or because they were damaged in accidents.
The administration has introduced a budget amendment that would allocate additional money to help replace these vehicles. Dark said the effort is part of a larger push to ensure officers have safe, reliable vehicles to respond to emergencies across the city.
Cost of the New Cruisers
The proposal outlines a plan to spend roughly $1.85 million to buy 30 new police cruisers. Of that amount, about $1.4 million would come from the city’s general fund, while another $450,000 would be drawn from the public safety fund.
According to Dark, the administration believes the investment is critical to maintaining public safety and keeping the department operating at full capacity. “We are trying to get our fleet back into the shape that we need to be at,” he told the council.
Where the Money Will Come From
Much of the funding for this purchase is expected to come from an increase in oil and gas revenues that have flowed into city coffers. City leaders say those dollars provide an opportunity to address pressing needs, such as the police department’s ongoing vehicle shortage…