Manvel to Purchase New Patrol Cars

By Nathaniel Lukefahr

MANVEL — The wheels of justice in Manvel are being kept in a state of almost constant motion.

With just eight patrol cars available to the police department, many are on the road 24 hours a day, every day, Police Chief Ralph Garcia said. Because of the constant use, each patrol car averages about 40,000 miles per month, including the fleet’s oldest, a 1996 model that — like all the city’s patrol cars — was purchased used, Garcia said.

“That’s mainly because we don’t have enough cars, so you’ve got officers running them anywhere from 16 to 24 hours sometimes,” Garcia said. “So if you have a vehicle in the shop and you don’t have enough vehicles, then one vehicle will be used for 24 hours. So we’re not giving a car a break.”

City Council during its meeting Monday unanimously voted to designate $39,700 for the purchase of new police cars to help alleviate the problem.

The money will go either toward the purchase of one patrol car or lease of more than one, Garcia said, and he has not decided whether to retire a patrol car once a new one is acquired.

“We have an aging fleet, so because of that it’s going to keep more vehicles out on the street,” Garcia said. “I think the last time we bought a vehicle was back in 2003.”

The city took the almost $40,000 out of the $450,000 in revenue it received from selling detention to area businesses last year, City Secretary Tammy Bell said.

“They are old, they are going to start breaking down, and you are going to have to start getting a new one,” Bell said.

As the city grows, the police department will need more cars because it will be adding police officers, Mayor Delores Martin said.

“We’re going to have to invest in more policemen and they are going to need something to drive,” Martin said.

Within the next two or three meetings, Garcia plans to approach City Council again and ask for more funding for patrol cars, he said.

“In all, I’d like to have two or three more,” Garcia said. “I’d like to have 10 or 11 vehicles.”

Also at the meeting, City Council approved using about $20,000 for the purchase of playground equipment for the City Hall park. The city will use $16,000 and $2,000 remaining for last year’s general fund and parks fund, respectively, and $2,700 from community donators, Bell said.

Martin said the playground equipment will be large enough for eight to 10 children to use at a time.

“We focus on developments and tax dollars, but we have to start thinking about the children,” Martin said. “They have nothing to play on.”

City Council appointed Councilman Ed Armstrong to search for the best piece of equipment for the park and make a recommendation.

Nathaniel Lukefahr covers Manvel for The Facts. Contact him at (979) 849-8581.