Chattanooga police are hoping a new driving simulator unit, to be used for training, will help lower maintenance costs for patrol cars and reduce the number of accidents involving officers.
In 2022, the department spent more than $5 million maintaining patrol cars, according to data obtained through a public records request. It spent around $3.4 million on maintenance in 2021, data shows, and just under $5 million in 2020. The Police Department has 616 cars in its fleet, most of them marked patrol cars.
Between 2020 and 2022, Chattanooga patrol cars were involved in 362 accidents, department data shows — 150 in 2022, 116 in 2021 and 96 in 2020. Thirty-two officers and civilians were hurt in those accidents, according to the department. Most accidents involving patrol cars are minor, Assistant Chief Jerri Sutton said.
(READ MORE: 2 Chattanooga police officers injured in multi-vehicle crash)
“The majority of the accidents occur while we are en route to calls for service,” Sutton said during an interview at the department last week.