The Township of Roxbury Police Department – comprised of patrol, traffic, support services, detective and records divisions – needs a well-maintained fleet of about 30 vehicles customized with specialized equipment so officers can respond to calls and emergencies for the community of 23,000 residents.
Challenge
In 2018, the department needed help to acquire five new vehicles. Instead of paying for everything at the point of acquisition, it wanted financing that offered monthly payments so it could stay within the annual budget.
“We are a mid-sized to smaller department,” said Silvio Valdes, a senior patrolman who coordinates the department’s equipment acquisition. “We have about 50 men, and our fleet is about 30 vehicles. Normally every year we purchase four or five vehicles, and we keep the fleet rotating.”
To ensure the department is fully operational with up-to-date equipment, it annually refreshes its fleet by selling vehicles with more than 100,000 miles and replacing them with new vehicles and equipment, which can include lightbars, beacons, sirens, speakers, laptop mounts, custom cabinetry, armoring and other features.
“We put 30,000 miles on each vehicle each year,” Valdez said. “Every three years, these vehicles are being replaced, which keeps our fleet in good working order and keeps our maintenance expenses down. We’ve kept it going now through the years, and our fleet is in good shape.”
Solution
The department needed $172,500 for two Dodge Chargers and three Dodge Durango police vehicles from Major Police Supply and Hertrich Fleet Services Inc.
It turned to Key Government Finance for a solution. It wasn’t the first time the two have worked together. In fact, Key Government Finance has provided financing solutions to the Roxbury Township Police Department annually since 2007.
Typical of previous years, the conditional sales agreement provided 100% financing for the vehicles and equipment customization, with monthly payments across a 3-year term.
Results
For 11 years, Key Government Finance has helped Roxbury Township Police Department to acquire the equipment it needs without paying for everything up front. This makes it possible for the department to stay within its annual budget and pay for the equipment monthly over several years.
Such an agreement also allows the department to keep up-to-date vehicles and equipment, save on maintenance costs from vehicles breaking down, and respond more effectively to calls and emergencies.
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