A new fleet of police cars has turned into a war of words between a local police chief and mayor.
Eatonville Police Chief Gene Bernal said his department recently purchased 13 new vehicles, but the mayor is taking five of the cars away for city use.
Bernal said the town’s fleet of patrol cars is so bad, he’s spending $30,000 a year to keep them running.
He said some officers even double as mechanics, fixing the cars themselves.
“Busted bumper and the inside interior is coming apart,” he said. "That car right there the transmission is gone. That car over there the engine is gone."
Bernal spent nearly a half-million dollars and leased 13 new cruisers.
The money came from savings from a renegotiated contract with the city of Apopka for dispatch services.
His decision sparked an expensive fight with newly elected Mayor Anthony Grant, who took five of the new cruisers from police and gave them to staff at Town Hall.
Grant claims a town as small as Eatonville doesn’t need 13 new patrol cars.
Bernal said converting the vehicles to civilian use will cost taxpayers $15,000.
“It’s our job to do the best job at managing money and not wasting it,” Bernal said.
Grant issued a statement saying, “I refuse to fight publicly with the chief who obviously has no respect for my office. We have needs in other departments where we can maximize these vehicles to improve and enhance services to all our residents.”
Document: Police chief responds after mayor takes new cruisers