Police Seek New Command Vehicle For Investigations

By Andrew Gorosko

The Police Commission has endorsed the purchase of a utility truck, which police would use as a “command vehicle” at incidents requiring an extended police presence for investigations.

Commission members on March 7 endorsed spending up to $102,700 to buy such a vehicle. The panel designated $57,700 in Homeland Security grants and $45,000 in drug assets forfeiture funds for such a purchase.

The command vehicle would be a custom-designed box truck that would have an accessway  linking the truck cab to the truck’s storage area.

The new vehicle would replace a used ambulance that police have been using as a makeshift command vehicle since the late 1990s. Police acquired that vehicle from the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which had used it as a modular ambulance.

Lieutenant James Mooney, who has researched acquiring a new command vehicle and has developed specifications for it, told Police Commission members that the truck would be similar in design to those in use by the state police for various emergency purposes. Lt Mooney heads the police department’s operations division.

The truck would serve the police department as a “multipurpose command-type vehicle,” he said. He suggested that a 16-foot-long storage box be affixed to a Ford F-450 truck chassis to create the vehicle. The vehicle would seat seven people.

The truck would contain two police workstations and have radio communications equipment, computers, and electrical service. The vehicle would contain sufficient room for conferences within.

Because such a vehicle is needed to carry various equipment to crime scenes and motor vehicle accidents, it would be equipped with numerous shelves for storage, he said. Counter space also would be provided.

The vehicle’s electrical service would be powered by a 7,000-watt generator when it is parked at an incident. Also, the truck would be equipped with two telescopic lighting towers to provide nighttime illumination at incidents.

The police department’s aging command vehicle is inadequate for police’s needs, the lieutenant said.

Lt Mooney pointed out that the new command vehicle would not be a “first-response” vehicle to incidents, so it not necessary for the truck to have four-wheel drive, which is a costly option.

The lieutenant predicted that the vehicle could be used by police for 15 years or more.

“We could set up a whole ‘command scene,’” and not require outside help to investigate certain cases, said Chief Kehoe.

The state police have various types of command vehicles, which they send to various municipalities, when needed, for police investigations.

Police Commission Chairman Carol Mattegat said it would be good for town police to have their own modern command vehicle.

Commission member Richard Simon said having such a vehicle would be a step toward making the police department a more professional organization.

Lt Mooney noted that various municipal spending endorsements are needed before the police department can buy the command vehicle. Police hope to acquire the vehicle by the end of 2006, he said.

Chief Kehoe said this week that he has discussed acquiring a command vehicle with First Selectman Herb Rosenthal. “We’re looking at all possibilities” in terms of acquiring the vehicle, the police chief said.