The City of Naples loved the new 1957 Chevy Impalas so much they bought three of them for the Police Department. And paid for them twice. It happened like this.
At the time new car dealerships were scarce in Naples so getting the Chevrolets was a trick. But a used car dealer, who we'll call Slippery Simpson, convinced the City he could get them a good deal on new Chevies. He'd once sold new cars elsewhere, he claimed, and had the inside track on obtaining all the new ones the City wanted. They bought his story, gave him three old police cars as trade-ins, and paid for the merchandise. Slippery told the City they'd have to pick up the cars in Lakeland, where he'd bought them, and made all the arrangements.
When the car pickeruppers arrived there, however, they where met with quizzical looks. No one, it seems had purchased three new Chevies for the City of Naples. Must be some mistake. So the City took delivery of three new ones anyway, and told the dealer there they'd forward payment.
Arriving back in Naples, a search for Ol' Slippery found he'd left town. Driving the then Chief Cale Jones' car he'd taken on trade. The car dealer in Lakeland finally filed a civil action against the City when they never recieved any money from Slippery or the City and the City had to pay up. Again.
Slippery was later caught out of state, but the money was long gone.
Thanks to Chief Ben Caruthers for the help.
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