Richmond City Council member blasts police car deal

• RELATED STORY: $1 million Richmond police car deal broke rules

• AUDITOR'S REPORT: Police cars bought without competitive bids

Richmond City Councilman Charles R. Samuels today blasted the city for failing to give vendors a chance to compete for the purchase of police cars.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported this morning that city officials violated procurement rules when they bought 40 police cars for nearly $1 million in 2007 without allowing vendors to compete for the business.

The procurement services department wrongly treated the purchase as though only one vendor could provide the Crown Victoria vehicles when numerous Ford dealers across the city and nation could have, City Auditor Umesh Dalal wrote in a report Tuesday to Mayor Dwight C. Jones and other officials.

Eric R. Mens, who authorized the purchase of the vehicles, gave notice June 30 that he would resign effective Aug. 30 from his post as Richmond's director of procurement services.

Samuels, who represents the 2nd District, said Richmond's city government "is not there for cronyism, nepotism or doing political favors for your friends. It angers me that that kind of behavior went on."

Samuels, speaking to a breakfast meeting of the Greater Richmond Chamber, said the purchasing deal will damage the city's credibility as well as its attempts to foster regionalism.

"Until the city can earn the respect and trust of the surrounding counties . . . it's going to be difficult to do so," he said.

City officials said Mens' resignation was not requested by the administration, and so far, no disciplinary action has been taken as a result of the investigation.

Dalal's report recommends disciplinary action and was copied to City Council members, as well as Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring. Herring was unable to say late yesterday whether his office planned to investigate.