Town of Walkerton unveils first electric police vehicle in the region

Walkerton Chief of Police Matt Schalliol and MACOG representatives unveiled the region’s first pursuit-capable electric law enforcement vehicle in the region at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Town of Walkerton’s police department on Tuesday, April 15^th.

Walkerton was awarded up to $72,062 for the vehicle and fleet charging through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) administered through the Indiana Office of Energy Development. Additionally, the town committed up to $16,000 towards the cost of upfitting.

“The Walkerton Police Department has always pursued the latest and greatest technology available to Law Enforcement. With the inception of the new Chevy Blazer EV, the first true pursuit-rated EV Police Vehicle, we knew we had to take that next step. The potential savings in fuel cost and being more environmentally friendly just seemed like the right way to go with a new vehicle. The new Chevy Blazer EV has only been in service for about a week, so it’s too soon to comment on savings just yet,” said Walkerton Chief of Police Matt Schalliol.

The Chevy Blazer EV has just shy of 500 horsepower, with acceleration from to 60 MPH in 5.08 seconds, and a range of 297 miles with all-wheel drive.

The GM Envolve North Central Government Team shared, “We could not be more excited for the Walkerton Police Dept. and the all new Blazer EV PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) the only true EV PPV on the market, to be added into service. As more states and municipalities implement plans to increase the efficiency of their operations and reduce fuel costs, the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV PPV can help achieve them. While offering uncompromising performance and capability to officers. Designed for the needs of law enforcement, the purpose-built electrical architecture is explicitly prepared for the demands of an emergency. We look forward to this relationship with Walkerton PD.”

The project was part of a larger Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) electric vehicle pilot cohort, developed after test-driving events hosted in partnership with The Tire Rack headquarters in South Bend.

“We’re pleased that our curated test drive opportunities and no-cost grant writing services in partnership with Drive Clean Indiana are benefiting our local communities. It was important for our local governments to compare vehicle models and evaluate their performance firsthand before pursuing the state funding,” said Leah Thill, Director of Sustainability.

“If electric police vehicles can work in a small town in rural northern Indiana, they can work about anywhere. We look forward to following this pilot project over the coming year,” said Ryan Lisek of Drive Clean Indiana, Indiana’s nonprofit Clean Cities and Communities Coalition.

The news release issued by the Indiana Office of Energy Development in May 2024 noted that 11 Hoosier communities, including the Town of Walkerton, were awarded a total of $1.47 million for an assortment of projects aimed at bolstering energy efficiency and conservation efforts. Ten MACOG communities applied for electric vehicles; four were awarded, including Marshall County, the City of Plymouth, and the City of Nappanee for non-law enforcement vehicles.

“Governor Braun embraces innovative energy solutions to strengthen local communities and their ability to reduce their energy costs,” said Jon Ford, executive director of the Indiana Office of Energy Development. “Congratulations to the Walkerton Police Department and all communities seeking to be leaders in energy innovation.”