Sam Fletcher reports from the Oak Harbor City Council’s meeting of Tue., Sep. 3, 2024 for the Whidbey News-Times.
New police cars will soon hit the streets of Oak Harbor.
At a meeting Tuesday, the city council unanimously approved the addition to the police department’s fleet.
This is one of several of Police Chief Tony Slowik’s asks for new cars in the past two years. All these asks have been approved, though none have been fulfilled.
In 2022, he said, council approved two hybrid vehicles, and the order was canceled. In 2023, council approved an additional five vehicles, an order that was also canceled.
They Said It
In March of this year, Slowik requested that three of those seven vehicles be electric, adhering to a state mandate to do everything he can to bring on electric motors to their fleet. The first electric car, a Chevrolet Blazer EV, should be delivered this week, he said, while the arrival of the other two is still to be determined.
Currently four of the department’s patrol vehicles need replacement, he said. They are each around eight years old and have driven over 140,000 miles. The fleet has no replacement vehicles equipped with emergency lights and sirens.
Tuesday’s ask comes after four 2024 Ford Interceptor SUVs appeared on the market through a Washington State contract vendor, he said. While the money available through the equipment rental fund is more than sufficient, Slowik wanted to change the earlier request from hybrids to gas engines to make the purchase.
Councilmember Jim Woessner appreciated that Slowik was “pumping breaks” on electric vehicles. He commended Slowik’s due diligence to comply with the state mandate, but this will buy time to sort out infrastructure and ensure the right decision.
“We found ourselves here, but the reality is this is probably a good place I think to be for where we’re at right now,” he said.
Councilmember Shane Hoffmire agreed with fewer words.
“Gas powered, vroom vroom, huh?” he said. “I like it.”
