LAPD Vehicles

Re “Despite Record Budgets, Shortages Abound at LAPD,” July 6: As the commanding officer of Motor Transport Division, I am involved in most of the Los Angeles Police Department’s fleet-related issues. I believe the negative comments about the fleet’s condition during non-replacement funding years are exaggerated. These comments are also an insult to the dedicated civilians who provide fleet support for the department.

It is true that we had patrol cars with excessive mileage (some over 175,000) and age, but never would the outstanding people in this division, who take great pride in their work, allow a vehicle with “holes in the floorboard and doors held together with wire” to remain in disrepair. During this period the fleet totaled approximately 3,200 vehicles. With a fleet this large, isolated incidents of this nature may occur. But once brought to the attention of personnel in this division, these issues are quickly resolved. Employees in this division would never knowingly permit an unsafe vehicle to remain in service.

NATHAN THIBODEAUX