Can’t Dodge the truth

Durango fails State Police en masse

The Indiana State Police began the transition from the Dodge Charger, a vehicle which it has used for its police fleet since 2010, to the Dodge Durango police package vehicle in May 2023. ISP has ordered a total of 516 Durangos (approximate value of $25.8 million). Over the last year, a total of 219 of these have been issued into the field for patrol duties.

A state trooper’s Dodge Durango undergoing an engine replacement. (Photo provided by Indiana State Police)

During this timeframe, 39 Durangos (18 percent) have experienced a mechanical failure due to a defective oil cooler. Using this same ratio, ISP would anticipate having an additional 40 Durangos experience this same mechanical failure for a total of 79 anticipated failures. That means approximately $3.9 million of equipment may not be available for their intended use by ISP personnel.

ISP Superintendent Doug Carter has spoken with a Chrysler representative but was not given a timeline to resolve the matter.

A fully equipped ISP Dodge Durango costs approximately $50,000. During the month of May 2024, ISP had 15 Dodge Durangos experience this oil cooler failure.

The average downtime for an engine replacement/repair is four to eight weeks. This downtime creates a huge burden on fleet operations, a significant loss of confidence in the vehicle by ISP personnel, and an ineffective loss of public service while the Trooper cycles in and out of a pool car to perform their daily duties.

Carter

“ISP has used Dodge as our primary police vehicle provider for the last decade-and-a-half; it is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this precarious position,” Carter said. “We’re having to sideline brand new vehicles, losing out on their value and functionality … the citizens and taxpayers of Indiana are being shortchanged and deserve better.”