CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – Charlottesville Police have removed the only Dodge Challenger in its fleet from service, and will dispose of it by the summer. In January 2018, Charlottesville Police purchased a similarly-colored Dodge Challenger James Fields used in the August 12th, 2017 attack that killed Heather Heyer and injured dozens of others.

City Manager Tarron Richardson says he and Police Chief RaShall Brackney reviewed purchase records as well as community feedback, and decided to get rid of this police vehicle. Richardson says this purchase happened before either he or Brackney got here, and they have been made aware that this vehicle, for many, is too clear a reminder of the Summer of Hate and the attack. They have decided getting rid of it is in the best interest of the community.

The complete CPD releases follows:

“The Charlottesville Police Department has removed from service the only Dodge Challenger vehicle in its fleet and the property will be disposed of by the City of Charlottesville before the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2020.

City Manager Tarron Richardson and Police Chief RaShall Brackney reached the decision after a review of the purchase records and community feedback. On August 12, 2017, James Alex Fields drove a similarly colored Dodge Challenger in the attack that killed Heather Heyer and injured dozens of others.

“This police vehicle was purchased before the chief and I joined City staff,” said Richardson. “We felt it was appropriate to review the matter after questions were raised on social media and by our community. This is clearly a reminder for many of the Summer of Hate and the attack, and we believe removing it from our fleet is in the best interests of the community.”

The City’s fiscal year 2018 budget designated funds for replacement vehicles and the 2017 Dodge Challenger was purchased as a used vehicle for $20,976 on January 19, 2018. The City added Special Olympics Torch Run graphics on April 23, 2018, at a cost of $2,020. No additional graphics or stripes have been added to the car since the vehicle was introduced to the Charlottesville Police Department’s fleet.

“The Charlottesville Police Department remains committed to assisting Special Olympics Virginia to help raise money to support children and adults with intellectual disabilities in our community,” added Chief Brackney.”