The Surrey Police Board has approved spending nearly $7.7 million this year to purchase new police vehicles, replacing aging cars inherited from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The decision was made during the board's regular meeting on April 30.
Replacing Aging Fleet
As the Surrey Police Service (SPS) transitioned from the federal RCMP to a municipal department, it inherited vehicles from the Surrey RCMP. However, many of these vehicles are reaching the end of their operational life. According to a report from the police board's finance and risk committee, SPS typically decommits active police vehicles at around 10 years or 175,000 kilometers. The report notes that while it is not financially feasible to replace every vehicle exactly at the target age or mileage, the aging fleet creates ongoing pressure that must be managed alongside transition growth.
Vehicle Purchase Details
The board unanimously approved the purchase of up to 68 Ford Interceptor police vehicles. Thirty of these vehicles will be ordered immediately, while the remaining 38 are scheduled for ordering in the fall, unless SPS finds an alternative supplier due to high demand for Ford vehicles. The total cost, including customization with police logos, shipping, taxes, and other expenses, is approximately $7.7 million, with each vehicle costing about $113,000.
SPS media liaison Ian MacDonald confirmed that the vehicle costs were factored into the department's budget beforehand. The old vehicles will continue to be used for training and non-operational support. MacDonald stated, "Vehicle replacements by police agencies vary across the country, but all seem to find a balance between replacing aging vehicles and spending money on new ones. Police vehicles experience significantly more wear than regular vehicles as they are almost continuously used and used for emergency responses."
Budget and Delivery Timeline
The police board noted that the city supported the vehicle purchase when discussed. The city confirmed it approved a $284.5 million budget for SPS earlier this year, which included $7.1 million for 68 vehicles, including seven motorcycles. However, the board's approved amount is slightly higher at $7.68 million. The vehicles ordered immediately will not be delivered until early 2027, with payment due upon delivery, making the cost part of the 2027 SPS budget.
An additional 41 vehicles are expected to be delivered to SPS by November 2026, of which 25 were purchased in 2024 and 16 in 2025. The report also indicates that the force needs more vehicles as it increases its number of officers.
