Police look to trade 'gas hogs' for fuel-efficient fleet

— -- Last year at this time, Mike Cochran, assistant chief of the Lauderhill, Fla., police department, was driving a Ford Crown Victoria cruiser that he says got about 14 miles per gallon.

Now, as municipalities count every penny amid the economic crisis, he drives a four-cylinder Chevrolet Malibu that, according the Environmental Protection Agency, gets about 30 mpg on the highway.

"We started trying to segue away from the gas hogs," Cochran said. "When we can, and where we can, we are trying to put officers in more fuel-efficient vehicles."

A growing number of law enforcement agencies across the USA also are chasing better fuel economy:

• The New York City Police Department has about 100 hybrid vehicles in its 5,800-vehicle fleet, Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said. The vehicles include Toyota Priuses driven by officers who issue parking tickets, he said. Also in the city's fleet are hybrid Honda Accords, GMC Yukons and Ford Escapes, he said.

• Seattle police now have 38 hybrids, including Toyota Highlanders, Ford Escapes and Toyota Priuses, according to Bob Miller, the department's fleet analyst. Administrators and detectives use the vehicles.

• The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Department in Louisiana will soon be driving some Nissan Sentras, which get about 35 mpg. The cars will be used by officers who serve court papers, according to Maj. Richard Williams, the department's fleet operations officer.

Traditionally, police agencies sought cars with powerful engines, strong suspensions and back seats big enough to haul away criminals. The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, long the backbone of police fleets nationwide, is still the "the police car of choice, with 80% of the market," said Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis.

Those requirements stand, but escalating gas prices have forced police managers to pay closer attention to fuel economy.

In Pennsylvania, the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department recently added three V-6 Dodge Chargers to its fleet.

"It's a savings," said Michael Weiser, chief of the 30-officer department. "Anytime you can save in the budget and save on gasoline, especially with (high) gasoline prices."

Stephen Marshall, a Berks-Lehigh officer, has been driving a Charger about six weeks. He said the car is comfortable, has good power and valuable safety features such as stability control.

"There is really nothing I can say negative about it," he said.

Marshall said his Charger is rated around 21 mpg, but his agency hasn't calculated the car's actual economy yet.

"We do use them harder than the average owner would, but we are getting much better (economy) I'm sure than we were from the Crown Vics," he said.

Patrol officers in Lauderhill still drive the Fords, but Cochran said his department is considering switching to Chargers to save gas.

"Every dollar counts," he said.

Jarvis said plans are in the works at Ford to develop a car that offers better fuel economy. "We believe the Crown Vics are the best-equipped police cars," Jarvis said. "We have longer-term plans to offer updated vehicles."

Bruce Wiley, products and marketing manager for GM fleet commercial operations, said gas mileage was not a consideration for police agencies in the past.

"But as the economy goes south, unfortunately, it is becoming more cause for concern, and people are looking at it," he said. "Fuel costs are a direct impact to their daily operating budget. That's real money they have to keep their arms around."

Wiley cautioned that fuel-economy estimates don't take into account differences in individual driver behavior or the demands of the job.

"That doesn't mean that the driver is going to see that (estimate) because they are hammering around town with their foot in the radiator constantly," he said.

Over the past two years, the Wisconsin State Patrol has purchased about two dozen Chargers. The original reason was so that approaching speeders wouldn't recognize the body style.

"Now the price of fuel has gone up, so we are looking more closely at miles per gallon," said Lt. Dave Pabst, the department's fleet manager.

Pabst said gas mileage is just one consideration.

"You must also factor, what is the overall repair history?" he said. "We're still analyzing that information to see what is the cheaper cost per mile, rather than the cost per gallon."

Jones reports for The Post-Crescent in Appleton, Wis.