Cruisers

Welcome to the police cruiser information page.

Police Vehicle Fleet Status -- Updates

We’re committed to keeping the community informed about the condition of our police vehicle fleet. This page will be updated periodically with information on mileage, engine hours, and overall vehicle status so residents can better understand the need for timely replacements.
Why Engine Hours Matter
Unlike typical passenger cars, police cruisers spend a significant amount of time idling or driving at low speeds — especially during traffic enforcement, emergency calls, and neighborhood patrols.
According to Ford Motor Company:

Idling includes sustained low-speed driving (under 25 mph), heavy traffic, or remaining stationary for over 10 minutes per hour of normal driving.
Idle time builds up during common police activities such as:
- Town road patrols
- Traffic stops and accident scenes
- Responding to calls
- Details and winter operations

Wear and Tear Adds Up Fast

1 hour of idle time = approx. 25 miles of engine wear
1 hour of total engine time = approx. 33 miles of wear

So while a cruiser may show 60,000 miles on the odometer, the actual wear could be more like 150,000 miles when factoring in engine hours.
The Average Life of a Frontline Cruiser
Frontline police vehicles typically have a useful life of 4 to 5 years or about 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Beyond that, they become less reliable, more costly to maintain, and may lack up-to-date safety features.
Many of our current vehicles have exceeded their expected service life — and due to budget limitations, some vehicle have been taken out of service and could not be replaced after becoming unrepairable. This puts added strain on the remaining fleet and limits our ability to respond efficiently..