Virginia State Police transitioning its fleet to new police cruiser www.privateofficer.com

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Credit: BOB BROWN/TIMES-DISPATCH

RICHMOND, VA. June 17 2012 (AP) - The Virginia State Police will begin the largest transition of its cruiser fleet in two decades this fall.

The agency has ordered 144 new Ford Taurus Interceptors for about $24,000 apiece. They will replace the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, which is being phased out now that the automaker has discontinued production of the line.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the State Police unveiled the new car Friday at an event for its 90 trooper trainees. Spokeswoman Corinne Geller says the new troopers will be the last class to get Crown Vics and the first to get the new Tauruses.

Most of the department's 1,100 Crown Vics will remain on the road for a while, but Geller says the public should also begin seeing the Taureses in October.