Harckham’s State Grant Helps Fund Lewisboro Purchase of a New Eco-Friendly Police Vehicle

South Salem, NY - New York State Senator Pete Harckham secured $55,000 in state grant funding last winter for the Lewisboro Town Police Department, and this week he had an opportunity to see the new eco-friendly patrol vehicle that was purchased with the grant.

Lewisboro’s new 2021 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility is the newest model of the first-ever hybrid powered police SUV rated as a pursuit vehicle for law enforcement agencies. Like most pursuit vehicles, it is manufactured with power and performance in mind, along with safety and storage considerations. As a hybrid, the all-wheel drive vehicle offers fuel savings, which save taxpayer dollars and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

“More communities are looking for environmentally conscious solutions to infrastructure and public safety requirements, so I am glad to have been able to help the Town of Lewisboro in this regard,” said Harckham. “This new hybrid police vehicle meets the department’s needs and produces less greenhouse gases at the same time, a real win-win situation. And being able to secure funding for the vehicle will alleviate some of the tax burden on residents.”

“We are grateful to Senator Harckham for providing grant funding to purchase this hybrid vehicle,” said Lewisboro Police Department Chief David Alfano. “We will be able to save a considerable amount of money in our budget with the fuel savings while also reducing our carbon footprint.”

The hybrid Interceptor Utility has the potential to save 343 gallons of fuel a year while in motion and another 933 gallons when idling. Up to 22,560 pounds of carbon dioxide can be reduced each year with the vehicle’s use. An estimated 1,276 gallons of fuel is saved per year compared to similar non-hybrid models—resulting in over $3,500 of fuel saving per year and less off-the-road time for vehicle and officer.

The Town of Lewisboro is served by both the New York State Police, stationed in Somers, and the Lewisboro Town Police, whose 13 officers work out of headquarters in South Salem. Consisting of 29 square miles, the Town of Lewisboro borders Connecticut on the east and stretches west to the Muscoot Reservoir.

In the past year-and-half, Harckham has secured SAM funding for numerous community projects and municipal initiatives around the 40th Senate District, including renovations at Lewisboro Town Park, new playground equipment for Fox Valley Town Park and a new police car and stop signs in Somers—saving district taxpayers $8 million in spending.