Mustang Police Resourceful After 3 Cruisers Damaged In Traffic Stop Crash

A recent crash that took out three patrol cruisers for the Mustang Police Department has proved to be a huge inconvenience.

News 9 got the dash-cam video of the crash from March 9. It showed an out-of-control pickup truck slamming into the three Mustang Police cars while the officers are on a traffic stop.

It happened near HW 152 and Morgan Rd. around 3:30 a.m.

The video showed one of the officers run back to his cruiser after the crash and chase after the truck.

The driver pulled over in a nearby parking lot, and officers said he explained he was not paying attention, even though all three police units had their lights flashing.

3/9/2014 Related Story: Mustang Police Cars Damaged In Traffic Stop Accident

Police Chief Chuck Foley said no one was injured in the crash, but the damage is around $15,000.

Chief Foley said two of the cruisers need repairs, and a third car was totaled.

The chief said it is a huge setback for a fleet the size of Mustang's, but the department is shifting and sharing resources so the public does not notice a change.

"I was surprised," said Mustang resident Allen Knight. "I didn't know that three cop cars had been taken out."

Residents told News 9 the strategy must be working, because they did not even realize the police department had a setback.

"I haven't noticed a change, but I do hope that they're able to get their equipment fixed and their vehicles," Mustang resident Karen Hart said.

Chief Foley said a cop car is basically an office on wheels for a cop, and Mustang has about one patrol car per officer.

Three of 21 sworn officers are currently sharing cars and swapping out equipment each day with someone else.

"I know there was one radaring right there by Tuttle, by Lowe's coming in from Tuttle, so I know they're out still doing their jobs," Knight joked.

The crash was more than a week ago, and the chief said the city is waiting on the settlement money. He had no timeline for when the department will get the three vehicles back.