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Community Corner

Point Beach to Add Two New Police Vehicles After Chief's Request

POINT PLEASANT BEACH – Borough Council approved the purchase of a Dodge Charger squad car and a Ford Explorer for the police department after Police Chief Kevin R. O’Hara requested new vehicles earlier this month.

While the majority of council members recognized the need for vehicles at the Dec. 3 Council meeting, the mechanism of payment was under consideration.  Police Chief Kevin O'Hara called the department's need for new vehicles "dire" two weeks ago.   

The borough will use surplus funds from prior bond issues to buy the SUV for $37,699 after a unanimous vote from the council.  The Dodge will be purchased from the police department’s budget after a budget transfer.  The cost of the Dodge will be either $35,830 or $34,320 depending upon whether a cheaper 2013 model can be obtained.  Councilman William Mayer was the lone councilman who opposed the purchase of the squad car.

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Municipalities pay fixed prices for police vehicles under state contracts.

Police Chief Kevin O’Hara said the new vehicles would be added to the fleet in the spring.  Currently, the department has four “frontline” patrol vehicles and the other vehicles have high mileage and are used for traffic duty, special events or for special officers to use.  The oldest vehicles are cannibalized for parts to save the borough money, O’Hara said.

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O’Hara said the department should replace two frontline vehicles a year since heavy use shortens their effective lifespans to approximately two years.  The borough replaced two vehicles with 2013 Explorers to compensate for two vehicles lost during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.



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