The new 2015 Ford Interceptor Cruisers will be hitting the streets in the upcoming days. Photo by Andrew Augustus, WPRO News
Andrew Augustus, WPRO News
The Providence Police Department has announced they will be getting 40 new 2015 Ford Interceptor SUVs for their patrol units.
The city had the opportunity to obtain the vehicles after the old master lease had expired. “We had a chance to get a new master lease and we knew that we needed to upgrade the vehicles,” said Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. He says the lease was put into his latest budget.
In addition to the 40 marked cruisers, the police department will also be getting some unmarked vehicles.
Chief of the Providence Police, Colonel Hugh Clements, says the department “shopped long and hard and we did a lot of homework behind the scenes for the exact right vehicle; we have the right vehicle.”
They chose the SUV because it offers officers more versatility while on patrol. Clements said a key factor was the vehicles ability to handle in snowy conditions.
The cruisers replace a fleet of old cars that are seven to eight years old with the majority having driven over 100,000 miles.
Eight of the vehicles are out on patrol. The other 32 are currently getting equipment installed and will be hitting the streets in the up coming weeks.
