Exeter puts police cruiser out for bids
April 17, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
At a city council meeting on Wednesday, April 10, Exeter’s City Council voted to allow sealed bids to be accepted for surplus materials in the city’s possession. The material in question is a 2009 Dodge Charger that previously served at the city’s police vehicle.
Due to damage done to the car during previous police pursuits, it was totaled and deemed too costly for the city to pursue repairs.
“It was in a couple of accidents prior to our current officer,” said Exeter city clerk Myrna Eisenbraun. “I think it just gave out.”
According to Exeter court clerk Marissa Robbins, in one of those accidents, the police cruiser suffered some structural damage as well as some major damage to key parts of the engine.
“In one of those accidents, it took out the radiator and blew a big hole in the reservoir,” said Robbins. “[The city council] used the insurance money to patch it back up, but apparently it had overheated so much previously that it was just too much.”
Robbins went on to explain that city employees took the car to repair the structural damage and get estimates on fixes to the motor, but ultimately the city council deemed the damage to the motor too costly to fix.
“We took some money to get the body back to where we could drive it, but the motor just had too much damage,” said Robbins.
In order to enable Exeter officer Willie Stephens to patrol, the former police car was taken to a dealership by city employees. There, it was stripped of its relevant equipment with several items moved to Stephens’ personal vehicle, enabling it to act as the city’s police cruiser.
“We took both vehicles down to Les Jacobs Ford and they transferred out the police radio and the radar,” said Robbins. “Willie already had his own sirens in lights in his car.”
In the meeting, council voted unanimously to begin accepting sealed bids on the vehicle. According to Robbins, there is no minimum on these bids. The city will be accepting offers on the vehicle until the Friday before their next city council meeting, which is expected to take place sometime during the first week of May.
For more information on the vehicle, or to inquire about placing a bid, contact Exeter City Hall at (417) 835-2823.
Vinnie Roberts
At a city council meeting on Wednesday, April 10, Exeter’s City Council voted to allow sealed bids to be accepted for surplus materials in the city’s possession. The material in question is a 2009 Dodge Charger that previously served at the city’s police vehicle.
Due to damage done to the car during previous police pursuits, it was totaled and deemed too costly for the city to pursue repairs.
“It was in a couple of accidents prior to our current officer,” said Exeter city clerk Myrna Eisenbraun. “I think it just gave out.”
According to Exeter court clerk Marissa Robbins, in one of those accidents, the police cruiser suffered some structural damage as well as some major damage to key parts of the engine.
“In one of those accidents, it took out the radiator and blew a big hole in the reservoir,” said Robbins. “[The city council] used the insurance money to patch it back up, but apparently it had overheated so much previously that it was just too much.”
Robbins went on to explain that city employees took the car to repair the structural damage and get estimates on fixes to the motor, but ultimately the city council deemed the damage to the motor too costly to fix.
“We took some money to get the body back to where we could drive it, but the motor just had too much damage,” said Robbins.
In order to enable Exeter officer Willie Stephens to patrol, the former police car was taken to a dealership by city employees. There, it was stripped of its relevant equipment with several items moved to Stephens’ personal vehicle, enabling it to act as the city’s police cruiser.
“We took both vehicles down to Les Jacobs Ford and they transferred out the police radio and the radar,” said Robbins. “Willie already had his own sirens in lights in his car.”
In the meeting, council voted unanimously to begin accepting sealed bids on the vehicle. According to Robbins, there is no minimum on these bids. The city will be accepting offers on the vehicle until the Friday before their next city council meeting, which is expected to take place sometime during the first week of May.
For more information on the vehicle, or to inquire about placing a bid, contact Exeter City Hall at (417) 835-2823.
