The first if eight new Dodge Charger police cruisers was recently striped and equipped for use by patrol officers of the Morristown Police Department. The new vehicles will be replacing current patrol cars with mileage as high as 183,000. MPD Chief Overholt said, “It is important that the officers have the equipment they need to do their jobs. These vehicles will replace vehicles which have been used for police work for 10-11 years; when you are charged with responding to life and death situations the equipment must be dependable and safe”.
The department opted for the Dodge Charger Pursuit vehicles after Ford announced that they would no longer produce the Crown Victoria-the traditional patrol vehicle for the MPD and many other police agencies. These vehicles were the cheapest alternative at approximately $22,300 apiece.
The Chargers are equipped with V6, 292 horsepower engines and electronic stability control or ESC which is designed to improve the vehicle’s stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction.