GFPD in the buying mood….for new vehicles

The latest supply chain snag is impacting the availability of the Grand Forks Police Department to land new squad cars.

The GFPD advertised…and accepted bids…for six new 2022 vehicles in November 2021 – but the order was never filled. Earlier this month the Ford Motor Company issued notice that they will stop taking 2023 orders.

In an effort to meet the unexpected deadline the department is tapping the North Dakota Department of Transportation Fleet bid for seven squads.

Deputy Chief Bill Macki told council members this week that if the deadline is missed the department will likely go a second year without new vehicles.  “We are not sure at this point if we can get the hybrid vehicles we have been getting the last couple of years – or if we will be getting gasoline powered vehicles.  At this point we will take any police vehicles we can et.   They do tend to wear out pretty quickly.”

The cost of the seven squads is estimated at upwards of $289,554 dollars. The GFPD has 23 marked and 26 unmarked units.