Kokomo takes home 10 Charger police cars
Posted Monday, Oct 12, 2009, 4:39 pm in Employee News
In January 2009, Kokomo Transmission Plant Manager Joe Per was contacted by plant nurse Donna Calabro, regarding a concern relayed to her by her husband Jim.
Jim Calabro is a Kokomo Police Department officer who was attempting to coordinate the purchase of Dodge Charger police cars for the Kokomo Police Department fleet. Upon learning of the police department’s interest, Per contacted the Dodge Brand officials, who in turn coordinated the involvement of the company’s National Fleet Sales organization.
The purchase of the vehicles became a reality between the joint efforts of the Kokomo Transmission Plant, Kokomo Police Department, city of Kokomo, the Chrysler Group’s National Fleet Sales and Button Dodge dealership in Kokomo. A total of 10 vehicles were purchased through Button Dodge.
Four of those vehicles will be used for patrols, running 24/7, according to Police Chief Rob Baker. The other six will be unmarked cars, but with all the new bells and whistles.
“Chrysler supports this community and this community should support Chrysler,” Goodnight told the Kokomo Tribune. “My family owns Chrysler vehicles. Many other families in this community own Chrysler vehicles. So it makes sense for the city to do the same, whenever possible.”
Goodnight said it had been several years since the city had purchased Chrysler vehicles and this was a great way to support the community. He also indicated that there would be a request next year and hoped that the city would generate additional orders for Chrysler products.
“Chrysler supports this community, and this community should support Chrysler,” Goodnight told the Kokomo Tribune. “My family owns Chrysler vehicles. Many other families in this community own Chrysler vehicles. So it makes sense for the city to do the same, whenever possible.”
The Dodge Charger police vehicle was designed from the ground up in order to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies. Police-specific features include greater stability and improved handling achieved through a “wheels-to-the-corners” design; performance-tuned steering and suspension; convenient shifter mounted on the instrument panel to make room for police equipment in the center console area; police interior lighting shines white to illuminate the interior and red for use with night vision equipment; heavy-duty seats accommodate fully equipped officers; and a spacious trunk.
With the new 5.7-liter HEMI, the Dodge Charger is the most powerful production police vehicle on the road, producing 368 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2009 Dodge Charger is the only police vehicle that offers best-in-class performance in four key pursuit categories: available power, acceleration, top speed and vehicle dynamics.
(Pictured above in front of the Kokomo Transmission Plant with four of the new Kokomo Police Department Dodge Charger police cars are Kokomo Police Chief Baker, Kokomo Transmission Plant Manager Per, and Kokomo Mayor Goodnight.)
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