By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
tribune staff writer

KEYSER — The Keyser Police Department is heading west to find a good deal for new vehicles, contracting with a Kansas City firm for the purchase of two used cruisers.
Police Chief Karen Shoemaker announced at the last city council meeting that the department would buy a 2003 Crown Victoria for just under $7,000, and a 2005 Chevrolet Impala for about $8,500.
The two cruisers will replace aging Crown Victorias in the current police department motor pool, both of which have more than 100,000 miles.
In presenting the proposed purchases to the city council, Shoemaker said she looked for the best deals for the vehicles before settling on Government Fleet Sales.
“We called places and got bids and estimates,” she said.
Shoemaker reported that the two vehicles come with a four-year guarantee on major parts. She also noted that they had relatively low mileage – one with 52,000 miles and the other with 33,000.
The police chief said such vehicles will be harder to find in the future, as police departments stretched by tight budgets are likely to use their vehicles longer.
While the Kansas City dealership offered a good deal on the cars, transportation expenses will add to their cost.
Asked by Commissioner Isaac “Sonny” Alt how the vehicles will be brought to Keyser, Shoemaker said officers will either fly out and drive back, or the department will contract with the dealer for delivery. “Whatever is cheapest is absolutely what we'll do,” she said.
Alt also asked what the chief planned to do with the two vehicles that the cars will replace. The department currently has one surplus Blazer, and Shoemaker said she is leaning toward holding onto one of the older Crown Victorias.
“I'm geared to keeping one of them, but we'll go with whatever Council wants,” she said.
While the council signed off on the two purchases, no decision was made on the fate of the current cruisers.