BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WTXL)--Bainbridge Public Safety have made some big upgrades to the department, spending thousands of dollars on 10 new police cruisers.
Bainbridge Public Safety purchased 10 cars for more than $300,000. They say it was all paid for with sales tax money.
It's out with the old and in with the new for Bainbridge Public Safety officers.
"We were starting to put a lot of money into the older cars," said Bainbridge Public Safety Chief Eric Miller. "Again it was really getting to the point where we either had to replace them or really put some expensive money into replacing front ends, rear ends, transmissions."
Ten new Dodge Chargers are replacing 2007-2008 Crown Victoria cars, each with more than 100,000 miles.
Inside each Charger is an in car video system. As soon as the officers turn on their lights, the cameras start rolling.
There is no guess work," said Capt. James Dollar with Bainbridge Public Safety. "Everything is documented. Everything is on video. There's no question about what may or may not have occurred."
Suspects can no longer kick out the windows of the patrol cars or hide items like drugs in cracks of the seats.
Each car costs more than $30,000.
"They're not that much more expensive from the vehicle standpoint than any other car," said Chief Miller. "However we do add emergency equipment which does add to the price but that emergency equipment is just the cost of doing business as a public safety agency."
We want to know your thoughts. Share them here or on our Facebook page WTXL ABC 27 HD.
