SHERIFF
08-22-2006, 01:56 PM
Notice the portion below in bold font. I have been trying to tell people this for a long time now. Chiefs and sheriffs don't want their rooks running 140 to 160 mph. Now you have from a horse's mouth. :D
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http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/+/200608215/%91General+Lee%27+an+attractive+cruiser+for+police +departments+in+state/
Monday August 21, 2006
‘General Lee' an attractive cruiser for police departments in state
DaimlerChrysler began production of the Dodge Charger in a police package last year, prompting law enforcement agencies across the country and in West Virginia to research the new cruiser.
The General Lee -- the car driven by Bo and Luke Duke -- is expected to continue tearing up the back roads of fictional Hazzard County in its bright orange skin, thank you very much.
The police version looks a bit different and is unlikely to be driven in such a reckless manner.
About 50 of the new cruisers are sprinkled around several police departments across the state, including agencies in Jackson, Logan, Lincoln, Mercer, Wood, Greenbrier, Grant, Mineral and Harrison counties. The Clarksburg Police Department has already bought 10, and many other departments are seriously considering the Charger.
It's a wild and aggressive design that immediately caught the eye of Jackson County Sheriff Mike Bright.
After speaking with other agencies and reading reviews of the car, the department ordered two for just under $20,000 each. They were delivered in mid-July and hit the road after the department installed police radios and other gadgets.
"I can tell you that the deputies have fallen in love with them. They handle great," Bright said. "I haven't had anybody say anything but good things about them."
Besides some difficulties with the steering column and gear shifter -- "It's kind of a radical design," Bright said -- the deputies have become accustomed to the cruisers.
Police can choose between a 250-horsepower V6 or 340-horsepower V8 Hemi with a top speed of 160 mph. Bright decided on the former because "I don't think a police car needs to go that fast."
The Dodge Charger came back into production two years ago after the name lay dormant for nearly 30 years. Many weren't surprised when Dodge introduced the Charger as a police cruiser soon after, mainly due to the rear-wheel drive and new four-door design.
Dodge stopped manufacturing police vehicles in the 1980s, leaving the market mainly to the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
Bright drove a Chrysler police cruiser while with the State Police before becoming sheriff in 2005. Both the Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Fury were popular police cars in the 1960s through the 1980s.
"I suspected they would go the police route. It didn't surprise me at all that they'd get back into it," Bright said.
"I'm pleased with the way they perform and would recommend them to anybody."
Now Kanawha County Sheriff's officials are looking into the car after hearing good reviews from other departments. Sheriff Mike Rutherford expects to speak with county Commissioners next week to see whether they can allocate coal severance funds to purchase two new cruisers.
The department might purchase one Crown Victoria and one Charger for trial purposes.
Rutherford is interested in the comfort of the Charger's seats because deputies often spend most of their shifts on the road. The seats were surprisingly uncomfortable in the initial model, Rutherford said.
"It felt like the seats were hard as a brick," he said. "This year with the new model, the seats seem to be quite better."
Other concerns are if the cars are reliable over a long period and whether there is enough room in the backseats for prisoners and equipment. The original Chargers were two-door vehicles, and Dodge made an attempt to keep the same look with smaller rear-doors in the new model.
"But everything I'm hearing, they appear to be up to par," Rutherford said.
Don McNemar of Country Club Chrysler in Clarksburg, the dealership that currently owns the state contract to sell the vehicles, said the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Everybody seems to be pleased. It's been really well-received," McNemar said.
That includes curious visitors at county fairs or other public events. Bright said his deputies have been eager to show off the two new cruisers at several area functions over the past month.
"I'm pleased to be considered progressive, and I can tell you that the kids have asked a lot of questions about these cars. They really like them and it's been a conversation piece," he said.
"It's been a public relations boost if nothing else."
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http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/+/200608215/%91General+Lee%27+an+attractive+cruiser+for+police +departments+in+state/
Monday August 21, 2006
‘General Lee' an attractive cruiser for police departments in state
DaimlerChrysler began production of the Dodge Charger in a police package last year, prompting law enforcement agencies across the country and in West Virginia to research the new cruiser.
The General Lee -- the car driven by Bo and Luke Duke -- is expected to continue tearing up the back roads of fictional Hazzard County in its bright orange skin, thank you very much.
The police version looks a bit different and is unlikely to be driven in such a reckless manner.
About 50 of the new cruisers are sprinkled around several police departments across the state, including agencies in Jackson, Logan, Lincoln, Mercer, Wood, Greenbrier, Grant, Mineral and Harrison counties. The Clarksburg Police Department has already bought 10, and many other departments are seriously considering the Charger.
It's a wild and aggressive design that immediately caught the eye of Jackson County Sheriff Mike Bright.
After speaking with other agencies and reading reviews of the car, the department ordered two for just under $20,000 each. They were delivered in mid-July and hit the road after the department installed police radios and other gadgets.
"I can tell you that the deputies have fallen in love with them. They handle great," Bright said. "I haven't had anybody say anything but good things about them."
Besides some difficulties with the steering column and gear shifter -- "It's kind of a radical design," Bright said -- the deputies have become accustomed to the cruisers.
Police can choose between a 250-horsepower V6 or 340-horsepower V8 Hemi with a top speed of 160 mph. Bright decided on the former because "I don't think a police car needs to go that fast."
The Dodge Charger came back into production two years ago after the name lay dormant for nearly 30 years. Many weren't surprised when Dodge introduced the Charger as a police cruiser soon after, mainly due to the rear-wheel drive and new four-door design.
Dodge stopped manufacturing police vehicles in the 1980s, leaving the market mainly to the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
Bright drove a Chrysler police cruiser while with the State Police before becoming sheriff in 2005. Both the Dodge Coronet and Plymouth Fury were popular police cars in the 1960s through the 1980s.
"I suspected they would go the police route. It didn't surprise me at all that they'd get back into it," Bright said.
"I'm pleased with the way they perform and would recommend them to anybody."
Now Kanawha County Sheriff's officials are looking into the car after hearing good reviews from other departments. Sheriff Mike Rutherford expects to speak with county Commissioners next week to see whether they can allocate coal severance funds to purchase two new cruisers.
The department might purchase one Crown Victoria and one Charger for trial purposes.
Rutherford is interested in the comfort of the Charger's seats because deputies often spend most of their shifts on the road. The seats were surprisingly uncomfortable in the initial model, Rutherford said.
"It felt like the seats were hard as a brick," he said. "This year with the new model, the seats seem to be quite better."
Other concerns are if the cars are reliable over a long period and whether there is enough room in the backseats for prisoners and equipment. The original Chargers were two-door vehicles, and Dodge made an attempt to keep the same look with smaller rear-doors in the new model.
"But everything I'm hearing, they appear to be up to par," Rutherford said.
Don McNemar of Country Club Chrysler in Clarksburg, the dealership that currently owns the state contract to sell the vehicles, said the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Everybody seems to be pleased. It's been really well-received," McNemar said.
That includes curious visitors at county fairs or other public events. Bright said his deputies have been eager to show off the two new cruisers at several area functions over the past month.
"I'm pleased to be considered progressive, and I can tell you that the kids have asked a lot of questions about these cars. They really like them and it's been a conversation piece," he said.
"It's been a public relations boost if nothing else."