Mexico Police chief Roy Hodsdon addresses the Board of Selectmen on June 19 about replacement of the police chief’s truck, damaged when it hit a deer. Clockwise, from back left: Selectmen Reggie Arsenault and TJ Williams, Town Manager Jack Gaudet, Board Chair Richie Philbrick and Selectmen Cliff Stewart and Byron Ouellette. (Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times)

Mexico Police Chief Roy Hodsdon hit a deer June 7 as he was traveling to work from his home in Roxbury. The accident caused more than $4,000 in damage to the chief’s Chevrolet Silverado. (Submitted photo)

MEXICO — Following a June 7 accident involving the police chief’s pickup truck and a deer, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 on June 19 to replace the damaged vehicle with a new truck.

After a presentation and recommendation from Police Chief Roy Hodsdon, the board approved a five-year lease on a 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 club cab through Bessey Motor Sales of South Paris. The lease cost on the black, four-wheel-drive truck will total $28,534, including a $2,500 trade-in and tax, title and delivery.

Hodsdon said the 2018 payment, about $6,300, will be covered by a combination of insurance on the damaged truck and drug-forfeiture money. He added that the new chief’s vehicle should be available July 1. The truck will not have a cage or push bars.

He said that at the end of the five-year lease, the town will have the option of paying $1 to own the truck.

Hodsdon said an advantage of leasing is that the town will not have to touch the police equipment reserve account, which is expected to total $18,119 on July 1. He said he will recommend an additional $20,000 be directed to that account in the 2019-20 budget because the Chevrolet Tahoe used by Lt. Dan Carrier is due for replacement in 2019.

Hodsdon said his former truck, a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado with about 81,000 miles, was damaged at 5:15 a.m. June 7 while he was traveling to work from Roxbury. The collision with the deer damaged the right front bumper, hood, fender, door and radiator support.

He said the trade-in value of the truck prior to the accident was between $4,000 and $4,500. The insurance check amount was $4,000. There was also an issue of rust with the vehicle, with would cost as much as $2,500 to repair.

With the Silverado out of commission, Hodsdon said the department was down to two vehicles. As a result, he has had to respond to calls using his personal vehicle.

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