Middbrief: Public Safety purchases new SUVS

The unmarked SUV students may have noticed Public Safety officers driving around campus in recent weeks is simply the department’s newest addition to its regular fleet of two vehicles. It has not yet been marked to identify it as a Public Safety vehicle because the department is awaiting a price quote from the company it contracts to paint the vehicles.

As Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah explained in an e-mail, this new SUV was actually purchased used from a local dealer, and was acquired in order to replace an older vehicle that needed “significant and costly repairs.” Purchasing a used SUV was more cost-effective than repairing the old one.

Typically, Public Safety follows a two-year replacement cycle for its vehicles. However, “when the College was faced with the economic downturn, [Public Safety] was informed that that we would not be able to continue the two-year replacement cycle” for the vehicles, said Boudah. Until this recent purchase, the department was unsure when it would ever be able to replace old vehicles. The budget from which Public Safety vehicles are purchased is developed between the Facilities Services Office and the Budget Office.

Some students have found it strange to see Public Safety officers driving in an unmarked vehicle.

“It’s kind of weird to see them driving around in a normal-looking car,” said Justine Warren ’12. “As long as they’re not doing it on purpose, though, I guess it’s not creepy.”

Boudah emphasized that the new vehicle will be marked within the month.