SIOUX FALLS — With law enforcement agencies around the country finding it hard to replace vehicles, Minnehaha County has found a way to ease their problem.
Sheriff’s Department Capt. Josh Phillips received approval at the Tuesday, April 4, county commission meeting to purchase eight Silverado pickups from an Iowa dealership.
The long waits for new vehicles are because of supply chain issues and because some manufacturers aren’t producing as many pursuit vehicles, Phillips explained. Some manufacturers aren’t even accepting orders, he said.
He said for example last year they ordered vehicles in March and didn’t receive them until January.
With eight budgeted for this year, they were able to find them at Karl Chevrolet in Des Moines, Iowa, at a cost of $42,979 each for a total price tag of $343,833. He said the dealership honored the Iowa state special bid price.
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Because of the delays in receiving vehicles in the past several years, Phillips said the price also would go up with the later delivery dates.
Commission Chairman Jean Bender asked about any South Dakota options, but Phillips said the sheriff's department wasn't able to find any viable purchases.
He said they hoped to receive the new pickups this summer under this new, rarely used arrangement.
As for the reason for the pickups, he said with the winter they have had this year they believe they will better serve residents throughout the county with some roads difficult to navigate in the colder months.
Phillips added that winters are hard on the vehicles, too.
He said they currently have a fleet of about 25 marked vehicles and 25 unmarked.
The pickups he said also can better serve some of the sheriff’s department task forces as they can “blend in” better with other vehicles for certain investigative and undercover operations.
When the newer vehicles are received, he said older ones are sometimes transferred to other county departments or sold at auction.
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