The Wrangell Police Department has upgraded its patrol fleet with two refurbished Ford F-150 trucks, replacing aging sport utility vehicles that are being reassigned to other municipal duties.

The department purchased the trucks, a 2020 F-150 EcoBoost and a 2021 F-150 EcoBoost, from Asia Motors, a company based in Chicago, using funds set aside in the budget.

The arrivals replace two 2014 Chevrolet Tahoes that had reached the end of their frontline law enforcement service and will be reassigned to the Public Works and Capital Projects departments.

The 2020 truck cost $32,321 after shipping; the 2021 totaled $41,521 after shipping.

Funding for the vehicle replacements came from Wrangell’s Permanent Fund, the port and harbor fund and the general fund. 

Police Chief Gene Meek noted that while the trucks are not straight off the showroom floor, they provide a major boost to patrol operations.

“We got two, new-to-us vehicles,” he said. 

The choice to switch body styles came down to handling island terrain as well as wear and tear on the older patrol units.

“We selected trucks because we really needed vehicles that could comfortably handle going off-road in some areas,” he said. “The main issue with needing new vehicles is a matter of mileage and maintenance.”

Although department staff consistently maintain patrol vehicles, Meek explained that servicing more than a decade-old SUV creates ongoing logistical hurdles.

“A 2014 is a lot more different to maintain when you talk about getting certain parts and managing things like suspension issues,” he said. “Those vehicles will be fine to be used by other departments because they won’t be used for high-speed chases or taking fast turns.”

Before the new trucks enter full daily rotation, final preparations must be completed. Custom decals marking them as police vehicles will be applied “within a month or two,” Meek said in September.

“One of the trucks also needs to have a prisoner containment area installed in the back seat. The other truck already has one,” he said.

The police vehicles are not the only recent additions to the public safety fleet after the borough committed to getting some newer vehicles this year. The Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department received a 2021 F-150 EcoBoost at a cost of $42,321 after shipping. The Port and Harbors Department received a 2026 Ford Super Duty F-250 at a cost of $48,161, and a 2023 Ford E-350 Service Body at a cost of $28,742.