The Daytona Beach Police Department is facing renewed scrutiny after officials confirmed that 84 aging vehicles remain in active service, including 2011 Ford Crown Victorias and 2014 Chevrolet Impalas. The revelation has sparked concerns about safety, maintenance costs, and the city’s long‑term fleet management strategy.
Commissioner Stacy Cantu raised the issue after reviewing fleet records that showed the department continues to rely on vehicles more than a decade old. Although the city maintains that the oldest cars are used only as reserve units, at least one Crown Victoria was recently observed on active patrol, contradicting those assurances.
The city reports spending $9.9 million since 2022 to replace 216 police vehicles, yet the older models remain in rotation. Cantu argues that police impact fees collected from new development should be used to retire outdated vehicles and prevent potential liability if an aging car fails during an emergency response.
She emphasized that the continued use of discontinued models like the Crown Victoria is especially troubling. National crash data shows the vehicle has been involved in hundreds of fatalities over the past decade, underscoring why many departments have phased it out entirely.
Reporters have requested detailed records of all vehicles purchased since 2022, including make, model, and VIN numbers, along with clarification on how impact fees are being allocated.
The city has not yet responded.
With budget discussions underway, the condition of the police fleet has become a central issue. Whether Daytona Beach will accelerate the retirement of older vehicles or continue relying on models built more than ten years ago remains uncertain.
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