City of Williamsport approves purchase of five pursuit-rated police vehicles

SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Williamsport City Council has passed a resolution authorizing the Williamsport Bureau of Police to purchase five Durango police pursuit-rated vehicles.
The vehicles will be purchased from New Holland Auto Group in New Holland and upfitted by 10-8 Emergency Vehicle Services of New Holland for a total of $254,957. Of this amount $241,856 is to be allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act funds. The other $13,000 will be from the department vehicle purchase fund, said city Police Assistant Chief Jason Bolt.
Bolt said this is going to help us replace three patrol vehicles that are out of warranty as well as the department having two marked vehicles that have well over a 100,000 miles, which is a lot different for a police vehicle.
This is also a COSTARS contract, so the city does not have to put the request out for bids, Bolt said.
COSTARS is a cooperative purchasing program and serves as a conduit through which registered and eligible Pennsylvania local public procurement units (LPPUs) and Pennsylvania state-affiliated entities are able to leverage contracts established by Department of General Services to cost-effectively and efficiently identify suppliers with whom to do business.
Council also passed a resolution authorizing a Professional Services Agreement between Williamsport Bureau of Police & Center for the Community Resources for Co-Responder Program, which has an individual working full-time with the department to respond to any calls related to behavioral or mental health and to train officers.
The cost of this program is covered by a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).