Ocala to purchase new lights and sirens for OPD fleet


[Photo courtesy Ocala Police Department]

Home » Safety
Posted July 17, 2024 | By Caroline Brauchler
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The city of Ocala is spending $300,000 on emergency lighting and audio equipment to purchase the same lights and sirens for every police vehicle in the Ocala Police Department’s fleet.

The purchase comes as a means of standardization to create uniformity across the fleet, so that every vehicle will look and sound the same, increasing recognition, consistency and making repairs more efficient.

The equipment is being purchased for 51 total vehicles, including 29 marked police cars, 18 unmarked police cars and four K-9 vehicles.

The equipment will be purchased from Whelen Engineering, which offered a discounted quote in comparison to other companies that provide the same equipment, wrote Ocala Facilities Management Director John King.

“Standardized emergency lighting equipment may enhance public recognition of city of Ocala law enforcement vehicles, making them easily identifiable during emergencies or law enforcement operations. This improves public trust and confidence in police services,” King wrote.

Standardizing the equipment across the fleet also increases interoperability, simplifying the maintenance and repair process, King wrote.

“It allows technicians to become proficient in servicing a specific type of equipment, reducing downtime and increasing operational efficiency,” he wrote.

The equipment will cost $6,600 for each marked vehicle, $3,364 for each unmarked vehicle, and $6,473 for each K-9 vehicle.

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