Mobile County Sheriff Office Navigates Vehicle: Sheriffs Deputy Pat Green rolled out of the lot in his trusty patrol car, a decade-old veteran with an impressive 212,151 miles on its odometer.
That’s right, 212,151.
This seasoned vehicle is just one of around 40 patrol cars in the Mobile County Sheriffs Office that have boldly cruised past the 200,000-mile mark. That’s about one-sixth of the entire fleet.
Sheriff Paul Burch, speaking , acknowledged, “I would say its a little higher than normal. But what weve run into, you know, is the availability of police vehicles.”
Interestingly, the hurdle they’re facing isn’t financial. Burch explained, The County Commission was gracious enough to give us the funding for it, and you know, give us close to what were asking for. But the vehicles just arent available.
The Sheriff mentioned that they’ve placed orders for new Chevrolet Tahoes, but the wait is projected to be another 18 to 24 months. Despite five new Tahoes making their way in recently, the older vehicles remain in service. They’re earmarked for newly hired school resource officers until their shiny replacements are ready for action.
The struggle isn’t exclusive to the Sheriffs Office; even Mobile police are grappling with car shortages. A city spokesperson revealed that Mobile police are waiting on 120 vehicles on order, plus eight 2022 Dodge Durangos awaiting upgrades.
The Mobile Police Department aimed to replace 60 to 80 cars annually from a fleet of roughly 450 to 500 vehicles in recent years, adjusting based on cost and budget considerations.
Various factors contribute to this vehicular bottleneck. Labor disputes in the automotive industry, including a recently concluded GM strike, have disrupted production. The industry’s shift towards electric cars has affected the production of gas-powered police vehicles. Additionally, Burch noted lower profit margins in police vehicles.
While the Mobile Police Department transitioned from the Chevrolet Caprice and Victoria to the Tahoe, the shortage persists since 2021 due to GM’s production cuts. In response, the Police Department shifted to Ford F150 patrol vehicles due to Tahoe unavailability. The city adopted unconventional strategies, like grabbing canceled orders from other agencies, to navigate this challenge.
The outcome of this backlog at the Sheriffs Office? Patrol vehicles that are becoming costlier to maintain
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Our Reader’s Queries
How do I report a crime in Mobile County?
To report a non-emergency crime, call 251-574-8633 or fill out our online CRIME TIP form. If you have anonymous information about a crime for the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, please give as much detail as you can in the form.
Who is the current mobile county sheriff?
Burch Paul serves as the Sheriff at the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Connect with Burch on LinkedIn.
What county is Mobile AL in?
To obtain police reports, contact the Memphis Police Department at 901.636.3650 for Records & Identification (R&I) services. A comprehensive FAQ page is available for R&I inquiries about police report copies, fingerprinting, ID, and service fees.