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Galesburg Police Vehicles Not Quite Ready to Go Green
The City of Galesburg and its police department likely wouldn't mind helping save the environment while trying to keep the streets safe, but it's just not in the potentially recycled cards just yet.

The Galesburg City Council recently okayed the purchase of nine new squad cars from Lakis Ford Dodge at a $186,000 cost to the city. It wasn't the low bid, but city officials chose it because of the potentially short delivery time.

But beyond that, aldermen questioned whether or not hybrid or flex-fuel squad cars were considered. City Manager Dane Bragg says in checking with some other municipalities, hybrid cars just don't meet the police department's needs yet.

"Where (other municipalities) are using the hybrids, they're not using them in patrol-type operations," Bragg said. "Generally, they just don't have the efficiency or the reliability, at this point, to be used in that type of activity."

Bragg says the city continues to go with Ford Crown Victorias for squads for now, mainly because they're reliable and low-maintenance, whereas it would be a bit risky to take on a hybrid right now due to a number of maintenance unknowns.

He says the city will continue to research using hybrid cars in the future, and that they may become a better choice in two or three years.
08 10 08 by Newsroom
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