North Bay Police getting bigger vehicles

There is a definite need for more space in police vehicles.

Media got a tour of the North Bay Police Services garage where one Ford Explorer was being worked on.

Police Chief Shawn Devine says their goal is to have three of their 12 vehicle fleet converted to Ford Explorers by this fall.

That would eliminate two standard Sedans which Devine says does have its restrictions because of its size.

Devine says when you factor in the height of some officers and what they have to wear and carry, the vehicles can become very restrictive.

Devine says the Explorers are twice the size of the sedans for both the police in the front and the prisoner in the back, as well as provides extra trunk space to carry more equipment if necessary.

They currently have 12 marked vehicles, 9 of which are sedans.