Many police departments across the United States are having their budgets cut following the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. As such, less police vehicles are being sold and Ford is already feeling the effects.

Ford is the segment leader in supply police departments across the country with vehicles and its SUVs have proven particularly popular in recent years. However, data from the New York City Police Department confirms cuts have already being made.

In the 2020 fiscal year, data reveals that the NYPD has purchased 534 new vehicles, a 50 per cent decline from last year’s total. Of these new vehicles purchased, just 29 were SUVs, data provided to Bloomberg News reveals.

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While the NYPD hasn’t stated exactly why it has slashed new vehicle purchases so significantly, it undoubtedly has something to do its $1 billion budget cut that was announced in June.

“When you have one sixth of the budget cut, you can easily extrapolate there will be impact on the number of purchases but also on maintenance,” professor of police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, Maria Haberfeld, said. “Generally, 85% to 90% of any police budget is allocated to salaries, benefits and overtime for officers and civilian employees. The remaining 10% to 15% — divided between training and equipment — is usually the first to go.”

Similar cuts are happening elsewhere. The Los Angeles Police Department spent a touch over $3.8 million on pursuit-rated SUVs in the fiscal year that ended June 20 compared to almost $10 million two years ago.

Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement believe fewer patrol vehicles will result in fewer incidents between officers and members of local communities.

“Police vehicles are often used as weapons against BLM protesters, so no one is upset over people not having money to buy new equipment and cars,” activist Justin Hansford said. “They are already over-equipped. As long as the cars get them to where they’re going, there’s no need for budgetary lines for new technology and cars.”

Associated professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University, Scott Wolfe, added that the defunding movement could force agencies to look for hybrid and electric vehicles for their fleets in a bid to save costs.