LONG BEACH, CA — The Long Beach City Council was asked to purchase 55 new Ford Crown Victorias for police and other uses. A recent audit of the city's fleet practices concluded that the city could save money if it bought Ford Tauruses instead of Crown Victorias to serve as various city vehicles. But the council will nonetheless be asked to buy 55 new Crown Victorias to serve as black and white, and solid-colored police cruisers. The overall purchase price would be $1.3 million, including a Suburban for the Fire Department that's part of the proposed order. Under the proposal, the city would add on to a Los Angeles County purchase order for other vehicles. Tauruses were not considered because Police Chief Anthony Batts said the smaller vehicles would limit officers' options and flexibility for deployment, according to the memo. Larger cars are essential for transporting prisoners, collecting evidence, and conveying equipment, the chief said. Crown Victorias, he said, are also rated as police-certified for pursuit purposes.