By: PATTIE MAYONNAISE
BEXLEY–The Bexley Police Department will replace three of its fleet cars with Aston Martin luxury sports vehicles, adding an air of power, beauty and soul.
The three newly purchased two-door 2008 Aston Martin DBS cars will replace the department’s 2004 Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars for a total cost of $801,000, or roughly three-fourths of the department’s $1 million budget.
“Go big or go home,” said Chief of Police Dudley Sturmore. “It ain’t about cost. It’s about respect.”
The price tag on the 6.0-liter, V-12, 510 horsepower engines was $795,000 coupled with an added shipping cost of $3,850 per vehicle.
“We wanted to do this right, so we went oversees to buy the cars,” said Sturmore. The vehicles were purchased from an Aston Martin dealership in Copenhagen, Denmark and will be shipped to the United States on the Queen Elizabeth II as “accompanied baggage.”
Aston Martin Denmark of Bryggervangen senior salesman Altfrit Adriaensz said, “It (Aston Martin) is a name that needs little introduction. It has always stood for fine, civilized, high performance sports cars designed and produced by skilled craftsman, but I don’t think these luxury cars are very well made for a police task force to use. They’re very compact inside–fit for two, really. There’s no back seat.”
To that end, Sergeant Whitey Lockhart said, “We don’t need a lot of room–just enough for radios, a computer terminal, police equipment, a cage and a space in the back for a prisoner.”
Lockhart said the force will likely benefit from the flash and sophistication of the make and model.
“Well, we all know who will win out in a high speed chase, and these assholes will probably just jump in the car when we cuff them. I mean, if you’re gonna go out, wouldn’t you wanna go out in style?”
Deputy John Alexander said, “We’re going to look so fly rollin’ on these dubs. My ex-girlfriend will probably want to get back with me, but I can’t think of a better time to be single and a cop, seriously.”
The decision to purchase the luxury cars was approved unanimously by city council members Tuesday, Nov. 12. City Council President Frank Maxter said he voted for the purchase because of the department’s continued dedication to the city.
“Why not? I think the business of protecting citizens is important and should be rewarded. These guys risk their lives day in and day out for public safety. They deserve a new station and new cars to boot.”
Maxter declined to comment on the state of the police department’s budget.
