Borough police will get two new cruisers
Vehicles will cost $50K-$60K, replace two older cars

WEST LONG BRANCH -- The borough's police department expects to get two new replacement cruisers for its fleet early next year.

Two Ford Crown Victoria cruisers, costing about $25,000 to $30,000 each, should be delivered to the department by sometime in February or March, according to Councilman J. Thomas DeBruin.

At the urging of DeBruin, the borough's police commissioner, the Borough Council unanimously agreed at last Thursday night's public meeting to submit a letter of intent as soon as possible to the state's contractor for police vehicle purchases.

The two cruisers, which would be accounted for in the municipal budget for calendar year 2007, will then take the place of two older vehicles that need to be rotated in the fleet, DeBruin explained.

"If we get the letter of intent in now, we could have these cruisers by February or March," DeBruin said.

The council unanimously agreed to move ahead with the purchase, which DeBruin said will be more cost-efficient in the long run.

The vehicles, which usually have a four- to-five-year life span will primarily be used by the department as "interceptors" for police working in traffic and safety enforcement, DeBruin said after the meeting.

Meanwhile, other uses, not related to enforcement, would be found for the older vehicles, he said.

Prior to the start of the council's business, retired West Long Branch Police Chief John H. Demaree, received a belated proclamation on behalf of the borough for his 35 years of service as a law enforcement officer.

Demaree, who was on hand to receive the proclamation from Mayor Janet W. Tucci retired from the department in February.

by Sue Morgan