City police to buy three new SUVs
By SHANNON CRABTREE newsdesk@leader-news.com

Contributed Photos Somewhat Like These El Campo Police will soon have a larger fleet when they add three new sport-utility vehicles. Two Ford Expeditions like the one shown in the lower photo above will be used mostly by the two officers assigned to the El Campo Independent School district, while one Chevrolet Tahoe like the one shown at top will be placed into the regular patrol fleet.

The El Campo Police Department will be upsizing its fleet - literally - with the purchase of two Ford Expeditions and one Chevrolet Tahoe following City Council approval Tuesday night.

The two 2008 Expeditions will be used primarily for the two police officers assigned to the El Campo school district while the Tahoe will be placed into the regular patrol fleet for one year, Police Chief Jim Elliott told Council.

Currently the department uses a mixture of Ford Crown Victorias and Dodge Chargers

The city and school district signed an agreement last month to put two officers at the disposal of the district during school hours. One officer will be primarily at the high school while the other will rove as needed.

All three are police package vehicles, he added. The Expeditions can be used for patrol purposes on nights and weekends.

"They are stripped. There is no carpet, no luxury. They are made for police use," the chief said.

The units will be painted black and white and striped exactly like a standard patrol vehicle.

The two Expeditions will be bought through the Houston- Galveston Area Council from Philpott Ford for $45,489.72.

"The school district will reimburse the city $44,000," Elliott told Council. "I will pay the remaining balance with drug forfeiture money."

The cargo space will be used to hold the department's tactical gear - riot vests, helmets and shields.

The gear, purchased years ago, has never been used in an emergency situation.

"The schools are a potential target in our area," Elliott said.

The higher profile of the units will also allow for response when streets are flooded, the chief said.

The Tahoe will be purchased for $29,126.95 from Holiday Chevrolet.

City Council had budgeted $22,000 for a new cruiser - so the remaining funds will also be pulled from the police department's forfeiture account.

"We would like to drive the unit for one year to determine if it is practical for patrol," Elliott told Council. "After one year, the unit will be evaluated and passed onto Officer Mark Biskup for a K-9 unit."

The new units should be available in 40 to 90 days.