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Maintenance costs convince Sheriff's Office to replace cars.

The Gadsden County Sheriff's Office is revving up its patrol power with 30 new Ford Crown Victorias. Next week the cars will replace 28 high-mileage cruisers in the fleet of about 70. The white cruisers are sitting in front of the jail, waiting to be "striped" with the Sheriff's Office colors and logo, spokesman Ulysses Jenkins said.

They arrived a week earlier than expected because the Jacksonville dealership needed the space in its lot, Jenkins said. The Sheriff's Office hasn't bought new patrol cars in three years, and some of those being replaced are as much as 8 years old, said Karen Pondexter, chief financial officer. Some of those cars have 200,000 miles on them, Maj. David Gainous said. As a result, the Sheriff's Office said, it has been averaging $6,800 per month on maintenance and repair. Getting so many new cars at once is a new strategy, Pondexter said. The Gadsden County Commission approved the lease-purchase plan for the cars in May. The county will pay $22,490 per car, then has the option to buy them for $1 apiece after the lease ends. "It offers you greater flexibility in your fleet management," Jenkins said. "You can either keep them or take them. It tends to work out better financially."

One of those financial gains is spending less on gas. Right now, the Sheriff's Office pays an average of $17,049 per month for fuel, according to a commission agenda. Gainous, bureau chief of patrol, also cited another benefit: "The morale of the deputies will be up a bit more." Pondexter agreed. "They don't have to be concerned about a vehicle that's going to break down on a call."

Contact reporter Daniela Velazquez at (850) 599-2161 or dvelazquez@tallahassee.com. Compliments of The Tallahassee Democrat.