MONROE — Due to a back-order of suitable cars, the Monroe Police Department (MPD) is looking to an Illinois dealer to buy its newest police cruiser.

Not only is the new squad from an out-of-state supplier, but it is a different brand from the aging Dodge Durango fleet operated by MPD. Police Chief Fred Kelley — on the agenda for the Jan. 20 Monroe Common Council meeting — is recommending that the council approve spending $47,413 on a 2025 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor with 3.3-liter, V6 engine from Sutton Ford of Matteson, Ill. a far-south suburb of Chicago.

“We normally order police vehicles from in-state or local dealers, and then wait for the vehicles, sometimes several months lately,” Kelley told the council, in a memo attached to the proposal. “The difference is that they have a lot full, where they are unavailable otherwise without ordering…This way, we can just go pick up the vehicle immediately.”

Kelley said the department has had some issues in recent months with its Dodge squad cars and is looking forward to trying out a different brand. The Matteson dealer can have cars on hand because they buy in bulk — already supplying the Chicago Police Department and Illinois State Police with their cruisers.

“Again, there is no price break for waiting, and this gives us one for use immediately,” Kelley said.