Parsons commissioners voted Monday to purchase three used vehicles, two patrol cars and a truck. The three cost just a touch over $50,000.
Chief of Police Scott Gofourth told the Parsons Sun it was an opportunity to “save a little money this year,” although Gofourth allowed he wouldn’t know until later whether the strategy would be worth repeating in the years ahead.
Chances are the cars, fresh from rebuilds, will function fine, while the truck has just 67,000 miles on its odometer, 70,000 miles less than the one it will replace.
The strategy is one that would be good for local law enforcement to look into. Humboldt has two patrol cars formerly used by the Kansas Highway Patrol cruising its streets.
Vehicles today are built to run much farther than those of even a few years ago.
And, cars designed and outfitted with police packages are made to withstand the abuse of long hours on the street.
As governing bodies continue to be faced with budgetary challenges, they should find innovative ways to get more for each dollar spent.
Law enforcement officers must have access to reliable transportation, but there’s no reason to think that a vehicle that long ago lost that “new car smell” can’t fill the bill for the lion’s share of service required of it.
— Bob Johnson
Used vehicles good way to stretch budget
