City police force all charged up over new cruisers in York, officers have started to replace their Ford Crown Victorias with Dodge vehicles.
November 23, 2009Section: Local
Page: 03
TED CZECH Daily Record/Sunday News
Online To see a video of a ride-along in one of the York City Police force's new Dodge Chargers, go to inyork.com/ydr. York City Police Sgt. Rob Goshen has spearheaded the effort to replace the departments aging fleet of Ford Crown Victorias. Following what appears to be a national trend, Goshen chose the newly designed version of an old muscle car, the Dodge Charger-with all the tools a police officer needs.
Here, Goshen explains why the department made the right choice.
Word is, before the Chargers, you did everything you could to make the old cruisers last, even using the city highway department as a repository for parts you thought you could use for other cars.
"We would scavenge parts out of old units that would go out of service....It was just mix-matched. It's Like Trying to take a carburetor off a Chevy and putting it on a Ford... It might work."
And now you've started to replace the fleet with the new Dodge Chargers.
How are they Doing?
"They bring a lot to the table - reliability and dependability... They handle better (than the old Fords), they're faster,and the gas mileage is better... the efficiency has just gone through the roof."
And those qualities are especially important in a police cruiser, right?
"All the stopping and going, our cars - they're 'hot seat' cars - they're run 24-7. Thats really hard on a car....The Biggest thing that we beat up and wear out are transmissions. When you hit that two-year mark, that transmission's stepping out."
What about the engine?
"They have V-6s, but these V-6s have more horse power than V-8s did six years ago."
Whats the best thing about the charger?
"The best thing is actually the installer - Pat Mannion of ELS Systems in Mountville - everything (lights, sirens, seats, partitions) was done right the first time."
What's been the publics response to the new chargers?
"They love the cars. They think they look sharp."
Speaking of 'sharp,' you took special care with the lettering on the cruisers, right?
"I went to Continental Signs (in York) and said I didn't want it to look like a drive-in billboard and I wanted the shield on it... I was very impressed with what they did." tczech@ydr.com; 771-2033
www.cumberlink.com
Dog Scout troop donates cooling device to local K9 squads
By Jason Scott, Sentinel Reporter
August 10, 2008
Valerie Weary no longer has to worry about cracking a window for her K9 when it's hot and humid.
A new computerized heat alarm system will automatically do that when the Cumberland County sheriff's deputy vacates her patrol vehicle to conduct police business.
The device - Heat Alarm Pro - monitors the vehicle temperature, and if there is a problem, it alerts the handler's pager and activates emergency ventilation for the animal.
It actually puts the windows down and installed exhaust fans blow the hot air out to help keep the K9 comfortable.
Unfortunately, on occasion, police dogs have been seriously injured or died in vehicles when the engine or air conditioning systems failed.
"It provides a lot of peace of mind," Weary said, noting the time that goes into building a relationship between K9 handler and dog. "It's just nice to have."
Weary, a sheriff's deputy since 2001, is in charge of the county's drug-tracking K9 named Zuza.
Dog Scouts of America Troop 161, based in Carlisle, approached the county agency about donating the device, which is valued at $900.
Members Jim and Kathleen Schally of Boiling Springs, with a big help from their tiny silky terrier/dachshund Chloe, raised more than $2,000 for the troop at the Bon-Ton selling Community Day coupon books. The troop decided to use that money to purchase the system for the county.
"This is something the Dog Scouts of America do all over the country," said troop leader Ann Withun, a Newville resident. "We donate things that the community needs that are not really budgeted for."
Pat Mannion and Craig Kingsborough of Mannion Enterprises volunteered to install the equipment free of charge, which makes it possible for DSA to donate a second heat alarm system, or similar pet-related device, to another agency.
Installation costs are as much as the system itself, Withun explained.
Troop 161 has also done fund-raising for the Salvation Army, teaching the dogs to ring bells for last year's holiday campaign.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office was "pretty excited" about the gift from the nonprofit organization.
"It's an item we normally don't purchase because of the cost," said Chief Deputy Sheriff Ron Anderson, citing the day-to-day maintenance costs of the county's two K9 units, including those associated with training, feeding and medical. "When an organization wants to help us out, we're really grateful for that."
With one device now installed, Anderson said the sheriff's office will probably try to get another one for the K9 bomb unit.
There are two municipal K9 units - Carlisle and East Pennsboro Township - in Cumberland County right now. Silver Spring Township is in the process of joining them.
State police and Carlisle Barracks also have K9 patrols.
