Pickup trucks cruising around the neighborhoods of Prattville and other towns in Alabama may be a more frequent occurrence in the near future.
The Prattville Police Department has recently purchased 10 Ford F-150 pickups for a total of $419,033. Equipped with police packages, these four-door and four-wheel drive trucks boast of high-end motors, transmissions, and suspensions that are specifically designed to endure the tough demands of law enforcement work. These vehicles are expected to provide reliable support to the police department’s daily operations.
According to authorities, the police department has decided to resort to using trucks due to the scarcity of police vehicles across the country. Most of Prattville’s patrol vehicles consist of Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs, which are widely used in law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
According to Police Chief Mark Thompson, the city had requested five Explorers last year, but the delivery date is still uncertain.
According to the spokesperson, they usually have an estimated time of arrival for the Explorers when the vendor sends them the VIN numbers. However, this time there has been no such information received from the vendor, leaving them clueless about the delivery timeline. Even after discussing the matter with the vendor, they couldn’t provide any tentative delivery date. The ongoing autoworkers strike has further added to the uncertainty, making it difficult to anticipate any possible delays.
According to reports, police departments throughout the state and the nation are facing similar challenges. The issues they encounter are widespread and persistent, and require careful consideration and strategic action in order to be effectively addressed. As such, it is imperative that law enforcement agencies work together to find solutions that will improve the safety and security of the communities they serve.
According to Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert, the Montgomery Police Department has been facing challenges with the manufacturing and delivery of policing equipment. The chief mentioned that these delays have worsened in 2023. Despite having placed orders in 2022, the MPD is still waiting for their delivery. The situation has been compounded by the fact that one of their leading manufacturers of police package vehicles has informed them that new orders will face even more delays.
Due to the constant use and extreme wear and tear, traditional policing vehicles are no longer a viable option for law enforcement across Alabama and the country. The rotating of these vehicles has become a necessity, leading to delays in maintenance and repairs, as replacement parts have become increasingly difficult to obtain. As a result, we are actively seeking alternatives and continuously in touch with our equipment vendors to find solutions to this problem.
According to Sheriff Bill Franklin, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has now ventured into the trucking business.
A couple of years back, the company purchased a number of Tahoes. It was only recently that they finally received the cars.
According to Franklin, the issue at hand is a present and urgent one. He stated that they were informed about the delay in receiving the Tahoes, and unfortunately, it turned out to be true. The team is currently in a state of frenzy, trying to acquire any vehicles that are even remotely suitable for police use. They are open to purchasing Dodge, Ford and Chevy trucks, and are eagerly awaiting their delivery within a reasonable time frame.
In the past, pickups have been a popular choice for sheriff’s offices due to their durability in handling the demanding nature of rural law enforcement work.
Franklin shared that the (Dodge) Chargers they have are becoming outdated, but they have received dependable service from their (Dodge) Durangos. The Tahoes have also proven to be reliable for their needs. Given the dirt roads in Elmore County, the trucks have been a great fit for their operations.
According to the source, trucks are better suited for rough conditions compared to cars and are capable of fulfilling all their needs. However, one has to exercise a bit of caution when using a truck in a pursuit situation as they tend to be more top-heavy at high speeds. Despite this, the overall experience with trucks has been highly satisfactory for them.
At the Prattville City Council meeting held on October 3, the board made a decision to retract the earlier bid for the Explorers and gave the green light for the purchase of pickups.
According to Thompson, the supervisors will be receiving the pickups and each shift will be assigned a truck. The department has always had a few trucks available for use during special events like parades and crowd control for traffic. These trucks have also been used to move barricades when necessary for operations.
According to officials, the addition of more pickup trucks is expected to enhance the overall capacity of the PPD. As part of the upgrade, certain trucks will be equipped with secure “cages” in the rear seats to transport prisoners without any safety concerns.
Thompson explained that having a pickup truck available during every shift would prove advantageous in cases where there is a need to tow an object or when storms hit and there is a requirement to clear roads of fallen trees and branches.
