MPD purchases new SUVs

Kathrine Alderman
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Recently the Monticello Police Department (MPD) was able to purchase two new police SUVs. Police Chief Fred Mosley applied for and acquired a grant from the state that ended up being approximately $74,000.

Using this money, the MPD was able to fully purchase two 2021 Ford Interceptors, the new police SUV from Ford. They were even able to purchase some of the equipment with the grant, such as the cage and center console. They weren't able to purchase all of the equipment, however. Still, thanks to the generous donations of others, they were able to get everything they needed.

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) donated all the remaining equipment the MPD required for the police SUVs including Code Three light bars, valued at $1,899 each; Code Three control modules, valued at $400 each; Code Three siren speakers, valued at $189 each; Code Three T-G lights, valued at $89 each; Feniex T-3 lights, valued at $48 each; Feniex hide away strobes, valued at $129 each; Havis computer stands, $129 each and wire for installation, both $100.

All this equipment was old equipment that the FHP no longer needed due to them having to upgrade their equipment, or similar situations. It's all still in good condition and functional and the MPD was extremely grateful to receive all the equipment. All total, the FHP donated equipment that would have cost the MPD $3,216 per car, if they had had to purchase it themselves.

Along with the donated equipment, they also were sincerely appreciative of Joe Rosmini, who installed all the equipment for them. If they had had to pay someone to install all the equipment, the labor would have cost them $1,980 per car. Rosmini basically donated his services to the MPD, though he was on the city clock while he worked on the vehicles, as he is a city employee.

If you add it all up, the MPD would have had to pay an extra $5,196 for the equipment and labor to install it if it hadn't been for the generous donations of equipment and time from the FHP and Joe Rosmini. Because of the help from the grant and those around them, the MPD was able to expand their resources, and will be able to better serve our community with their two brand new police SUVs.