Police & Fleet

The Chief of Police’s Assigned Unit

By Terry O’Connor, as told to UX Auctions Editorial Staff

In November of 2025, the City of Wilmington, North Carolina released a group of retired municipal vehicles on GovDeals. Buyers approached the listings the way they usually do, scrolling through photos, sorting by mileage, and convincing themselves that the numbers on the screen told the entire story. After years of watching auctions unfold, I knew the real work begins long before anyone places a bid.

I didn’t begin with a bid. I began with a phone call. That simple step is often overlooked because many assume the listing contains every important detail. I called the number on the auction page and asked when inspections would be allowed. The answer revealed an inspection day that wasn’t emphasized or highlighted. It was available to anyone who asked, yet very few did. That single call opened the door to information that would never appear in the listing.

The black 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility, Unit 01, in the GovDeals listing photo. — Unit 01 as it appeared in the City of Wilmington’s GovDeals listing.

When inspection day arrived, I drove to Wilmington’s secured fleet facility. Government lots have a familiar atmosphere, a blend of old coolant, dust, and the steady rhythm of municipal operations. A city mechanic was on duty, and that was exactly who I wanted to meet. Listings and photos can only hint at a vehicle’s life. Mechanics know the full story.

I walked the 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility with the same methodical approach I’ve used for decades. The exterior immediately stood out. There was no spotlight, no roof equipment, and no signs of hardware removal. That alone suggested it wasn’t a patrol unit. Inside, the cabin confirmed it. Full carpet, an OEM console, and clean trim pointed toward administrative use rather than front‑line duty. Patrol vehicles rarely retain that level of interior completeness unless someone has gone out of their way to restore them, and Wilmington’s fleet team wasn’t in the restoration business.

While examining the interior, I asked the mechanic if he recognized the unit. He glanced at the key tag and explained that it belonged to Unit 01, the Chief’s vehicle. In that moment, the entire auction shifted. I didn’t react outwardly, but I knew I had just identified the standout vehicle in the lineup.

Command vehicles live a very different life from patrol units. They aren’t racing to calls or idling for hours at scenes. They aren’t subjected to constant in‑and‑out movement or the daily wear that grinds down front‑line cars. They travel to meetings, park in reserved spaces, and receive maintenance with the understanding that the department’s leadership depends on them. I kept that knowledge to myself as other buyers walked the lot, each of them unaware of what Unit 01 represented.

Side view of the black 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility with no spotlight and no roof equipment. — Unit 01: no spotlight, no roof equipment and no signs of hardware removal.

With the vehicle’s identity confirmed, I asked the two questions that matter most on a 3.5L EcoBoost: whether the water pump had been replaced and whether the timing chain had been serviced. Both jobs had been completed roughly ten thousand miles earlier, removing two of the most expensive future repairs from consideration. That information alone placed the vehicle in a different category from the rest of the fleet.

I continued gathering details, asking about service records and title status. The maintenance chief confirmed that the vehicle would come with complete records and a clean title. By that point, I had everything I needed. I understood how the vehicle had been used, what major work had already been completed, and what documentation would accompany it. The picture was clear. Unit 01 was a command vehicle with a full interior, recent major maintenance, and complete records, all presented exactly as it had been driven.

The rest of the auction lineup consisted of typical patrol units. They carried the marks of front‑line service, from roof equipment to heavily worn interiors and the electrical complexity that comes from years of emergency gear installation. Many bidders focused on those vehicles because they looked like the police cars they expected to find at government auctions. They chased mileage and photos, while I relied on verified information gathered directly from the people who maintained the fleet.

When the auction closed, the patrol units drew most of the attention. The Chief’s vehicle did not. Many bidders didn’t recognize what made it different, and that shaped the final outcome. I placed my bid with full confidence in what I was buying and secured the vehicle for $5,050.

The 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility on an alignment rack in the shop. — Unit 01 on the alignment rack after the purchase.

A clean 2015 Police Interceptor Utility with command‑level use, a complete interior, major maintenance already completed, and full records carries value far beyond that number. The result came from calling early, showing up in person, speaking with the right people, and staying quiet when information mattered most.

That is the entire process. No shortcuts. No illusions. Just steady, practical work that consistently leads to strong vehicles. Auctions reward preparation, and decades of experience have proven that point time and time again.

For anyone curious, the closed auction remains visible on GovDeals. The listing confirms every detail of the story.

The link is here: https://www.govdeals.com/en/asset/1224/334

If you want to explore live auctions, guides, and more stories like this one, head back to UXAuction. That’s where the journey begins.

Disclaimer:
This article reflects real‑world auction experience gathered through years of buying and selling vehicles from government fleets. Every auction is unique, and buyers should conduct their own inspections and research before placing a bid.

About the contributor

Terry O’Connor is the Founder and CEO of UX™ LLC. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he has more than 40 years of experience in government surplus and fleet operations. From 1996 through 2026, he owned and operated Southern Interceptors in North Carolina.