New cop cars fall short of need

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The Brown administration is touting its plan to purchase new police cars to replenish its depleted fleet, but the move leaves the police department short on vehicles.

Thirty-five new cars are in the pipeline. But it could be up to a year before they’re all on the road, and their number falls short of the 50 to 60 new vehicles needed annually to keep the fleet in good order.

John Evans, president of the Police Benevolent Association, recently sent a letter to the Common Council complaining that officers directing traffic at the events downtown do so without patrol cars — meaning no flashing lights to alert drivers to their presence. That’s a dangerous situation, Evans said.

Investigative Post has previously reported on the sorry condition of the department’s fleet of patrol cars and its impact on the deployment of police officers.