| Chief of Police Armand P. La Barge |
| York Regional Police |
| 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada L3Y 4W5 1866-8POLICE TTY 1-800-668-0398 Fax 905-853-5810 www.yrp.ca |
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THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK POLICE SERVICES BOARD REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE 23 JANUARY 2008 __________________________________________ Re: Purchase of 2008 Replacement Police Vehicles __________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION:
A minimum of 62 police package vehicles must be replaced in 2008. It is requested that replacement orders for 62 Ford Crown Victorias be approved for delivery starting in early 2008. The purchase price of these vehicles is $1,890,275.49, including all taxes. This only provides for replacement vehicles and does not include any additional vehicles being proposed in the 2008 Capital Budget. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: York Regional Police is a member of the Ontario Police Co-Operative Purchasing Group (O.P.C.P.G.) whose mandate is to obtain the best pricing on various police and Government related uniforms and equipment. This group consists of representatives from various Ontario police services and now the Ministry of Government Shared Service has partnered with O.P.C.P.G. The O.P.C.P.G. has received the manufacturer direct pricing of $28,073.00 plus applicable taxes for the 2008 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. The 2007 price was $28,010.00 plus taxes. This was 0.22 per cent lower than the 2008 price. The funds for the purchase of the replacement vehicles have been included in the 2008 Capital Budget. This budget includes funds totaling $1,890,275.49 for the replacement of 62 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor vehicles. The vehicles being replaced will be disposed of by Auction in accordance with By-Law #11-06. BACKGROUND: Each year, it is necessary to replace a portion of the patrol vehicles operated by the York Regional Police in accordance with the Fleet Vehicle Replacement Program. This process ensures our vehicles are safe, reduces maintenance costs and provides the highest return value on the replaced vehicles. York Regional Police purchase vehicles which are manufactured specifically to accommodate the rigors of police patrol and conform to the Province's Adequacy Standard. The braking system and suspension of the vehicles are heavier and the electrical system is structured to accommodate the extreme electrical draw that is required to drive the equipment installed in a police vehicle. These features are only available on police package vehicles. Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler produce vehicles approved for police use in Canada. From 2000 to 2002, York Regional Police utilized both the Ford Crown Victoria and the Chevrolet Impala for general frontline patrol duties. Feedback from our officers indicate a lack of sufficient interior space when wearing full equipment and accommodating the mobile workstation in the Chevrolet Impala. Similar feedback was received from the testing of the Dodge Charger. As a result, the Chevrolet Impala and Dodge Charger are used for detective, administration, traffic and community oriented response duties. Since 2002, York Regional Police have utilized the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor for frontline patrol duties. At the Finance and Administration meeting on November 1, 2007, Chair Fisch commented that the price of the 2008 vehicle models should be down substantially as a result of the recent strength of the Canadian dollar and the purchase incentives on many of the vehicle models produced by the North American automobile manufacturers. As a result, the Chair of the Fleet Subcommittee of the O.P.C.P.G. contacted representatives from Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler to enquire if similar price incentives will be passed along for fleet purchases of their police package vehicles in order to bring their pricing in line with prices in the United States. Although they refused to put anything in writing, their responses were all the same indicating the pricing quoted in response to the O.P.C.P.G. tender in September 2007 would not be reduced. Reasons given include differences in the U.S. and Canadian police vehicle markets and the additional features and equipment that are required to be supplied on the vehicles sold to Canadian Police Services. Despite their unwillingness to adjust their tendered pricing, it is recommended that the replacement vehicles remain as the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Due to vehicle service and age, a minimum of 62 police package vehicles must be replaced in 2008. Orders for 2008 vehicles must be placed in order to take delivery in a timely fashion and enable sufficient time to changeover the police related vehicle equipment. |
Respectfully submitted, Armand P. La Barge, Chief of Police. |