The Oak Forest City Council gave its approval Tuesday to the purchase of four new vehicles for the Police Department, and approved other measures to ensure they are equipped with the latest computer technology.
Without opposition, the council voted to purchase four Ford Explorers at a cost of $26,099 each. The vehicles were purchased from Frankfort-based Currie Motors, which operates the suburban purchasing cooperative from which many local police departments buy their vehicles.
Police Chief Gregory Anderson said the four new vehicles will replace older ones now in use.
“This will let us move out our older squad cars,” the chief said.
Also on Tuesday, the council approved the installation of equipment such as emergency lighting, radios, protective equipment and video cameras. Each new car will have $9,496 worth of equipment installed. That equipment was purchased from Tinley Park-based Police Department Systems, Inc.
“We’re talking about everything in the car except for the laptop,” Anderson said.
Installation will also include the prisoner cage for the back seat, the chief said, although Mayor Henry Kuspa referred to it as “the safety cage,” saying, “I’m trying to be nice.”
Each of the new vehicles will also have a video camera system installed, at a cost of $5,220 per vehicle and purchased from Watch Guard Video Systems of Allen, Texas.
The camera systems were purchased through the state purchasing system, and Anderson said the company has provided quality equipment to the Police Department in the past.
Meanwhile, the City Council gave its unanimous approval to an agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to distribute rain barrels to Oak Forest residents.
Public Works Director Rich Rinchich said the city will take orders from local residents, but that the water district will pay the cost of the rain barrels and will actually distribute them to residents.
Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown
