WILLISTON, Vt. -
As the garage door opened at the state police barracks in Williston, Vermont Wednesday, out popped something most people haven't seen, a state police SUV.
Vermont State Police Sargeant Greg Campbell is the first person to get behind the wheel.
"It's important to have a car that's safe because it's our main source of transportation and how we function every day," said Campbell.
The reason for the new vehicle, the current Crown Victoria's aren't made anymore.
Campbell tested others, and recommended the SUV and a sedan.
The department bought 20 sedans and 24 SUV's, costing around $900,000 dollars
In going from a car to an SUV, one question we wanted to know, what's this going to cost taxpayers in gas?
The Crown Vic gets 14 city and 21 highway miles to the gallon.
And the SUV is slightly better at 16 city and 21 highway.
That means the department will save money in gas by switching to the utility vehicle.
It's also made better for troopers.
"The seats are cut a little bit differently in anticipation of our duty belts," said Campbell.
It's safer too because the SUV is all-wheel drive.
Campbell says over the next few weeks, you'll see more on the streets as troopers begin to break the new vehicles in.
"The two new platforms are brand new to Ford, to anyone in law enforcement, so we're expecting some bumps in the road but we're very excited about the technology," said Campbell.
The Crown Vic is also used in New York.
State police there say the group is currently trying out vehicles right now and hopes to make a decision by this summer.
And in New Hampshire, state police have begun to purchase Dodge Chargers for their troopers.
As for what happened to the old Crown Vics, state police say they're sold at auction.
