Margate Police Mobile Command Vehicle

In 1994, the Margate Police Department commissioned LDV of Burlington, Wisconsin to custom build a mobile command vehicle designed to enhance the agency’s emergency and tactical response capabilities. Revolutionary in terms of its level of sophistication at the time, the vehicle cost approximately $425,000 and was acquired solely through drug forfeiture fund proceeds without cost to the taxpayer.

Throughout the years, the vehicle proved its value and utility in a wide variety of diverse assignments in the city as well as in mutual aid operations throughout the State of Florida. Within the city, the vehicle capably served in hundreds of deployments during special operations, crime scenes and other assignments. Among its more notable mutual aid deployments:

• Utilized in conjunction with the United States Secret Service as a mobile command post during the first Summit of the Americas held in 1994 in Miami by the Organization of American States.
• Deployed in support of the Broward County Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTF) during the Fort Lauderdale Air and Sea Show 2000-2007 as well as other MAGTF operations.
• Assisted Osceola County and the City of Kissimmee in recovery operations related to Hurricane Charley in 2004. Served as the command post for Margate Officers deployed in mutual aid law enforcement and security operations.

Through fourteen years of regular deployments, the vehicle was showing its age. In 2008,

the choice was made to refurbish the vehicle in lieu of replacement. This decision was based upon the fact that comparable command vehicles are now priced between $350-500,000 and the body, chassis and powertrain of the vehicle remained in excellent condition.

Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises (PRIDE) of Tomoka, Florida were contracted in May 2008 to complete a major refurbishment of the mobile command vehicle. This $50,000 overhaul was once again financed through drug forfeiture funds at no cost to taxpayers. Included in the refurbishment were the following upgrades:

• Complete body repair and repaint.

• Replacement of the generator and air conditioning units with high efficiency units.

• Replacement of exterior emergency lighting with high efficiency devices.

• Replacement graphics.

The refurbishment, at significantly less cost than replacement, has proven to be a success. The mobile command vehicle looks pristine. These changes have extended the estimated service life of the Margate Police Mobile Command Vehicle. It will continue to capably serve our community well into the future.