Photo By Tommie Horton | The 78th Air Base Wing Security Forces Squadron recently received a new law...... read more read more
78th SFS Receive New Vehicle
By Tommie Horton
Robins Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – The 78th Air Base Wing Security Forces Squadron recently received a new law enforcement patrol vehicle which arrived fully equipped and ready for service.
The Ford Taurus was acquired through the Department of Defense’s Joint Service Law Enforcement Vehicle Equipment Standardization, or JSLEVES, initiative.
The DoD is leasing the vehicles for department funded installations through General Services Administration at a significant savings to the government. Acquisition and maintenance costs are not absorbed by the local unit with this effort.
The appearance of the 78th SFS’s new sedan is more comparable to law enforcement vehicles off base, making it more recognizable by the public. Its powerful V6 engine is built to run rigorous 24-hour patrol schedules on eco-friendly E85 fuel.
“It not only looks better, but it runs and feels better too,” said Staff Sgt. John Duffin, 78th SFS shift supervisor.
Up until now, patrol vehicles would arrive at the unit as standard sedans and would require outfitting with multiple modifications such as lights, sirens, radios and partitions. Those modifications would cost around $6,000 per unit.
The police interceptor package installed on the Taurus at the factory includes everything needed for security forces to perform their mission upon delivery.
Having the car outfitted at the factory also means the equipment wiring is neatly installed and more reliable. The lights and sirens are pre-programmed at the factory.
The backseat is caged and doesn’t have door or window controls.
“These features make the car safer and more suitable for transporting suspects,” said Duffin.
Eventually, all vehicles in the 78th SFS fleet will be replaced with JSLEVES vehicles through attrition. That includes trucks, SUVs and K-9 units. All K-9 vehicles will be fully equipped SUVs. The unit typically replaces a vehicle every three to four years and expects to have its fleet full of JSLEVES vehicles around the year 2020.
“In the past, we would have to strip the older cars of all of their added equipment and store those parts in a warehouse prior to taking them out of service,” said Master Sgt. Alvin Arguello, 78th SFS supply logistics manager. “That process will no longer be necessary,” he said. “Retired JSLEVES vehicles will be sent back to GSA the same way they were received.”
The JSLEVES initiative marks a win for the Air Force SFS units as well as the Defense Department.
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.28.2017 10:40 |
| Story ID: | 231914 |
| Location: | WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 598 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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