“We have an growing older fleet. No one’s going to disguise from that,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said. “Help’s on the way, but we’re kind of at the mercy of the supply.”
DALLAS — Ask Dallas cops they usually’ll let you know: They take into account their patrol vehicles their workplace.
“It has our computers. It has our radios. We communicate, and it gets us to the citizens 24 hours a day. An officer will ride in that squad car for eight hours. After eight hours, they’re going to give it to somebody else, and they’re going to do the same,” mentioned Sgt. Sheldon Smith, president of the Dallas chapter of the National Black Police Association.
If you dial 911, a Dallas police officer goes to reply to your name in a patrol automotive.
“The squad cars are needed in order for us to do our jobs,” added Smith. “That’s our home away from home.”
But officers not too long ago despatched WFAA photos of models which have over 195,000 miles on them, mismatched doorways, free electrical wires, broken floorboards, and taped fuel covers.
“I know at some stations, especially at Northeast, is the place where we get the most complaints,” mentioned Sgt. George Aranda, president of the National Latino Law Enforcement Organizations’ higher Dallas chapter. “Sometimes, there’s not a vehicle to be given out to officers, so some of these guys are waiting 30 minutes to an hour just for these vehicles to come back into play so these officers can go to work.”
In a memo despatched to officers on July 20 after WFAA requested concerning the patrol automotive scenario, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia acknowledged his officers’ frustrations, saying the division expects to add 300 substitute models and marked squad vehicles to the patrol fleet over the following two years.
“We have an aging fleet. No one’s going to hide from that. I’m going to be transparent about it. We have an aging fleet,” Garcia advised WFAA.
More patrol vehicles have already been ordered.
Meanwhile, others are sitting in the parking lot on the Naval Air Station in Dallas.
Because there’s a giant downside.
“They’re waiting for chips like a lot of other car manufacturers and a lot of other places are waiting for as well. And so they’re waiting for chips. They’re waiting for parts,” Garcia mentioned. “From a police department perspective, we’re no different than the other consumer. And I know that’s been an issue nationally when people are trying to buy cars as well as the wait for that.”
Garcia wouldn’t communicate to whether or not or not new vehicles ought to’ve been ordered earlier to start with.
But in the event you name 911, the chief mentioned his officers will probably be ready to get to you.
“We really haven’t had issues of cars breaking down while en route to calls. Obviously, these cars are aging, but they are maintained,” Garcia mentioned.
“We’re working on it. Help’s on the way, but we’re kind of at the mercy of the supply,” the chief added.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link