FRIDAY, October 9, 2026|
Photo – Saratoga Police Department patch – Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga officials agreed to upfit two existing police vehicles rather than purchase a brand‑new unit.
During the September 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief John Moore presented a $47,000 quote for a 2026 Ford F‑150 from a Denver, Colorado dealership. Chief Moore explained that his department was down one vehicle, with another kept running through continuous maintenance by Lieutenant Mike Morris. The Chief added that upfitting the new truck would cost an additional $26,658.04, bringing the total price to $73,658.04.
Instead of authorizing the purchase, the governing body instructed Chief Moore to obtain a quote to install a prisoner cage in an existing lower‑mileage Ford Explorer as opposed to purchasing an entirely new vehicle.
Saratoga Police Lieutenant Mike Morris attended Wednesday evening’s Saratoga Town Council meeting to present a $3,984.87 quote from Frontier Upfitting of Cheyenne to install a prisoner cage in the previously mentioned Ford Explorer.
Lieutenant Morris added that the price includes installation.
Mayor Chuck Davis said the council requested that quote and asked for a motion to approve the purchase. Councilman Bub Barkhurst made the motion, saying that he preferred paying $3,900 over $73,000 for a new patrol vehicle.
The motion passed unanimously.
Lieutenant Morris then presented a $668 quote to install polycarbonate partitions in two newer pickup trucks, also from Frontier Upfitting. He said the partitions will increase officer safety.
Lieutenant Morris added that the quoted price covers installation in both vehicles.
The Town Council unanimously voted to approve the partition purchase. Lieutenant Morris said he didn’t know when the items would be ready to install, noting they must be ordered first.
Cheyenne‑based Frontier Upfitting is also supplying two new patrol vehicles to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. The $168,867.97 purchase was approved during Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting. The money will come from the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, Office.
