Town to Buy Last of Crown Vics for Police Force

The town of Riverhead released an advertisement to purchase five Crown Victoria Police Interceptors for the at their meeting on Tuesday.

The town needs the new or unused Crown Vics to replace vehicles taken out of service because of damage or extensive repairs, according to the resolution. The Crown Victoria was discontinued by Ford in 2011.

Town Supervisor Sean Walter joking called the resolution the "Officer Schneider" resolution at a town board work session after an incident in which Riverhead Police Officer Charles Schneider was hit head on in his Crown Vic on by a fleeing suspect. Schneider is doing "fantastic" except for knee injury, Walter said thanks to driving the sturdy vehicle.

Town officials said it made more sense to buy more Crown Vics rather than a different model of vehicles because the Police Department already has parts from retired vehicles to use when the police cars break down.

"We have a boneyard in parts to sustain these things forever," Councilman Jim Wooten said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Officer Schneider's first name as Sam