During the meeting, Rhodes also mentioned the disasterous experiences the city police department has had with its Dodge Chargers.
“They have not been real road-reliable in our environment. Driving in our town with the stops and starts has presented problems. I don’t know if it’s the design or what but they haven’t performed well,” said Rhodes in an interview following the meeting.
Cumberland Chief of Police Charles Hinnant echoed Rhode’s views.
“They have a small interior and they don’t stand up well. When we put a computer and the other equipment in them, they fill up fast,” said Hinnant.
“They don’t seem to have good visibility,” added Rhodes.
Traditionally, police departments used the Ford Crown Victoria.
“The Crown Vic was a tank. The suspension was built sound. We had few problems with them,” said Hinnant.
“They were built for police work. The Crown Vics have been traditionally very reliable,” Rhodes said.
Both men indicated that the Dodge Chargers needed frequent repairs. The city has five Chargers that they obtained in 2007 and 2008.
“We started having problems with them after the first year. We have had a lot of repairs ... engines, transmissions, wiring, you name it,” Hinnant said.
“They’ve been an extreme disappointment. We’ve had to use a couple of Chargers for parts. I think a couple of the Chargers have been totally replaced,” said Hinnant.
“The suspension and everything just doesn’t seem to be as strong,” said Rhodes.
Hinnant said they began getting the Crown Victoria again recently but said he is not sure what direction law enforcement will go with vehicles in the future.
Police vehicles are bid in packages through the state.
