When the people of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, speak about their community, their pride is evident.
'We're a unique township in the center of New Jersey,' Mayor John E. McCormac said. 'We have a very strong municipal government and school system and a population of people who volunteer, love their community, and take care of people.' Sgt. Phil Agosta of the Woodbridge Police Department echoed that sentiment. 'Woodbridge is the best of the best,' he said. 'We're 10 towns and one great community.'
Mayor McCormac, Sgt. Agosta, and the rest of the town council have a close working relationship, and together, they're committed to properly resourcing the Woodbridge Police Department. Even still, municipal budgets are limited, and Woodbridge Township officials must allocate spending carefully to ensure essential services, including police. Ford Pro end-to-end solutions, which encompass police vehicles and fleet financing, are tailored to meet on-the-job requirements and tackle organizational obstacles.
'We need solid vehicles and budget flexibility. That's what Ford Pro provides us.'
Mayor John E. McCormac
A blue Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUV drives down the road with its light on.
Ford Police Vehicles Tailored to Officers' Needs
Woodbridge's relationship with Ford dates back more than 20 years. Today, Woodbridge's police fleet includes over 150 vehicles, including Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUVs and Ford F-150 Responder trucks. According to Sgt. Agosta, having the right police vehicle is critical to daily work; officers agree. 'This is my home for our 10-hour shifts,' said Officer Jessina Minsal, who works in traffic enforcement. 'I need a reliable vehicle.'
With that in mind, in 2020, the Woodbridge police director asked Sgt. Agosta to create a prototype for an upfitted Ford police vehicle tailored to the department's needs. His first step was to consult the officers themselves. 'We had officers give feedback on what kind of police vehicle equipment they needed,' Sgt. Agosta said. 'Getting their input on what should be in the vehicle, how the radio should be positioned, where the mics should be located, or how the computer or cage should be set up makes their job a lot easier.'
Vehicle security is a priority for Officer Minsal, who noted that many of her motor vehicle stops are after dark. The Police Engine Idle feature, now standard in the 2025 Police Interceptor Utility, allows vital systems and equipment to run even after she has exited the vehicle. 'Whenever I do a motor vehicle stop, I hit Police Engine Idle, which allows me to take the key out of the ignition without turning off the engine,' she said. 'The vehicle itself is still running, but it won't actually go, so I don't have to worry about someone stealing my beautiful blue vehicle.'
Considering how many hours officers spend in their vehicles, comfort is another priority. Despite being well over six ft. tall, Officer Michael Harris finds his Ford police vehicle very spacious. 'I've been very pleased with the chosen vehicles,' he said. 'When I get in the vehicle, I have no issues sitting comfortably on either side and even in the back.'
Fleet Financing for Tight Municipal Budgets
According to Sgt. Agosta, the Woodbridge Police Department likes to rotate vehicles out after three years of service. 'Each June, we evaluate our police fleet to see what needs to be changed,' Agosta said. 'You can just imagine the hours and miles these cars have on them after three years.' But how can Woodbridge rotate vehicles every three years while staying under budget?
Woodbridge uses Ford Pro FinSimple Municipal Financing to fund its Ford police vehicles and any desired upfits, eliminating the need for large cash outlays and long-term debt contracts. 'The program is great for municipalities that don't want to spend all of their budget on vehicles,' said Justin Misiora, Municipal Finance Operations Specialist for Ford Pro FinSimple. 'They can spread that cost out.'
Currently, the Woodbridge Police Department is financing approximately 60 police vehicles. With Municipal Financing, Woodbridge can maximize its annual budget and take advantage of flexible repayment terms. 'We structure it as a dollar buyout contract, full payout with principal and interest payments,' Misiora said. 'The municipality can choose from monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual payments.'
'Ford Pro FinSimple makes budgeting 100 times easier because I can go to the town council and say, 'We need this many cars, this is what it's going to cost, and this is what our payments will be for the next three years.''
Sgt. Phil Agosta
Woodbridge Township and Ford have had a strong relationship for decades, and Mayor McCormac and Sgt. Agosta don't see that changing anytime soon. 'Ford is such a great collaborator because the vehicles are solid, the people are responsive, and the method of financing is so accommodating to our budget,' McCormac said.
Ford Motor Company has a long history of serving police fleets, and Ford Pro is proud to help departments meet the modern demands of law enforcement.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY 
