Waltham Police Will Receive Brand New Cruisers

WALTHAM, MA - Police in Waltham will soon be traveling in style.

The Waltham Finance Committee Monday approved the use of $356,900 from a police reserve fund to purchase nine new patrol vehicles, the Waltham News Tribune reported.

The department will replace more than a third of its fleet of Crown Victoria sedans with Ford Interceptor SUVs. According to the Tribune, the department deploys 25 cruisers.

In recent years several departments not only in the Bay State but all over the country have turned to SUVs in lieu of the sedan. Ford ceased production of the Crown Victoria - long held as the go-to model for police vehicles - in 2011, leaving law enforcement to search for a new patrol car.

The Ford Interceptor has become a favorite for departments looking to fill the void; in 2013 Quincy unveiled six new Ford SUVs and a year later Hadley police started utilizing the vehicle for its ability to blend in.

Waltham Deputy Police Chief Bill Stanton told the Tribune the vehicles replaced would be from 2007-2010 and have at least 100,000 miles on them.

The program will go into effect once the transfer is approved by the full city council next week.