Police department gets three new-look patrol cars

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by Mark Cheffey

The Palmyra Police Department has three new patrol vehicles after a long wait and a decision to go in another direction to obtain them.

The department now has three 2022 Chevrolet Tahoes, purchased through a prominent Des Moines, Iowa, firm, breaking a previous tradition of obtaining Ford Explorers through a state bidding process.

Talk of going in a different direction came in the fall of 2022, and the vehicles were ordered last April, but are only being delivered now due to supply chain issues.

“We haven’t had them very long, but we’re happy with what we’ve got,” said Assistant Chief Micheal Baker.

Chief Eddie Bogue said the decision to change makers and providers was due to a number of factors.

Bogue said the department’s Fords have had mechanical issues, particularly with water pumps going out and resulting in expensive replacements.

Other department’s in the area have been going to Karl’s Emergency Vehicles, a large Des Moines, Iowa, firm, he said, and after checking the company out, decided it would be the most economical way to go.

“The Tahoes are also larger, which is important for all the equipment we have to have in them,” Baker said, noting such items as computers needed for electronic ticketing.

“They also accelerate better,” Bogue said.

The new Tahoes have a new look for Palmyra, going from the Palmyra orange and black Panther decalling to a more traditional police blue.

Baker said the new look was chosen during a employee meeting as part of a team-building exercise.

The department and city have had to be patient in waiting for delivery of the new vehicles due in part to a shortage of computer chips.

Two of the three cars came in before the start of the new year, and a third was to be ready any day as of last Thursday.