July 20, 2025

OTTAWA — Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Curry figured his next three patrol cars would be the new police-special Chevy Caprices. His department is getting Dodge Chargers instead. Curry told commissioners Monday that when he checked on the status of the Caprices, he was surprised and dismayed to find that someone at General Motors lost his order for the new Chevys. The Olathe dealer handing the order offered three other Caprices but they didn’t meet the department’s specifications, he said. To get the correct cars, Curry said he was told it would take several more months before they would arrive. The waiting times for the Caprices are unusually long because they’re only made in Australia and must be imported. To keep from going over the mileage limits for trade-ins, Curry took three Fords off the road, and rather than wait until next year being short of three patrol cars, Curry asked commissioners for the authority to go a second bidder, which means the Chargers. The Chargers are slightly cheaper but Curry said once they’re modified for his department’s radios and equipment, they’ll cost slightly more than the Caprices. They’ll also have smaller engines. Curry told commissioners his department has the choice of powerful Hemi eight-cyclinder engines or small, less-powerful six cylinders. Deputies have tested the cars with six-cylinder engines and they are pleased with the cars, he said. The department already has a Hemi-powered Charger and officers say they really don’t need the more powerful engine, he said. Even in the worst-case scenarios, officers won’t exceed 110 to 120 miles an hour in police chases, he said. The smaller engines also use less fuel, he said. Like other law agencies across the country, Curry had to find new patrol cars because Ford has stopped making Crown Victoria sedans, which have long made up the backbone of police fleets.
Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2 p.m.

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