I walk by a yard littered with toys. One of them is a miniature police car. It looks like something the Keystone Cops would ride in, a packed clown car that a multitude of police spill out of. I imagine the children using it much the same way — crowding into the car, fighting over who gets to drive and having the time of their lives pedaling around the yard. I can honestly say I have never seen the inside of a police car, but I understand they are modern now, equipped with laptops and sophisticated communications. As criminals get smarter, so does law enforcement. Let’s find out what today’s police cars look like — outside and inside.
According to Wikipedia, a police car — also called a police cruiser, police interceptor, patrol car, cop car, prowl car, squad car, radio car or radio motor patrol — is a ground vehicle used by police for transportation during patrols and to enable them to respond to incidents and chases. Typical uses of a police car include transporting officers so they can reach the scene of an incident quickly, transporting and temporarily detaining suspects in the back seats, as a location to use their police radio or laptop, or to patrol an area, all while providing a visible deterrent to crime. Some police cars are specially adapted for certain locations e.g., traffic duty on busy roads, or for certain operations e.g., to transport police dogs or bomb squads. Police cars typically have rooftop flashing lights, a siren and emblems or markings indicating that the vehicle is a police car. Some police cars may have reinforced bumpers and alley lights, for illuminating darkened alleys.
Terms for police cars include area car and patrol car. In some places, a police car may also be informally known as a cop car, a black and white, a cherry top, a gumball machine, a jam sandwich or panda car. Depending on the configuration of the emergency lights and livery, a police car may be considered a marked or unmarked unit.
History
The first police car was a wagon run by electricity fielded on the streets of Akron, Ohio, in 1899. The first operator of the police patrol wagon was Akron police officer Louis Mueller Sr. It could reach 16 mph and travel 30 miles before its battery needed to be recharged. The car was built by city mechanical engineer Frank Loomis. The $2,400 vehicle was equipped with electric lights, gongs and a stretcher. The car's first assignment was to pick up a drunken man at the junction of Main and Exchange Streets.
Ford’s introduction of the flathead V-8 in its Model 18 in 1932 –– the first low-priced, mass-marketed car with a V8 engine –– proved popular among police departments and led to strong brand loyalty. In turn, this gave the company a market-capturing edge that lasted until 1968. In the 1940s and 1950s, the "Big Three" — Ford, General Motors and Chrysler began to offer specialized police packages with severe duty parts. Foremost among these was the Ford package of 1950, which utilized the larger and more powerful Mercury engine in the smaller, lighter Ford. This ended the practice of some state police buying larger and more powerful, but higher-priced models including Buicks, Hudsons and Chryslers. In 1969, Plymouth took first place in the police market, with Chrysler's 440 cu. In. V8s, Torqueflite transmissions, and torsion bar suspensions giving them a compelling advantage. Chrysler held this lead until the 1970s energy crisis drove buyers to smaller cars, and Chrysler subsequently discontinued their rear-drive platform after the 1989 model year.
In the United States and Canada, police departments have historically used standard-size, low-price line sedans since the days of the Ford Model A, although many police departments switched to intermediates –– such as the Plymouth Satellite, Ford Torino and AMC Matador –– in the 1960s and 1970s. Some state highway patrols(including those of California and Missouri adopted pony cars, such as the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and AMC Javelin for use as high-speed pursuit vehicles. The Ford LTD, Plymouth Gran Fury and Chevrolet Caprice were re-adopted as standard when the models were downsized in the late 1970s.
Since the termination of the North American Chevrolet Caprice model in 1996 — though it would subsequently return in 2010 for exclusive law enforcement use, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor replaced it as the standard patrol car, however, most Ford Crown Victorias have now been phased out. In an attempt to better combat the threat of rear-end impacts that highway patrol vehicles face when stopped on the shoulder, new models can be optionally equipped with a fire suppression system. Other models such as the 8th and 9th generation Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Tahoe and Dodge Charger also gained a percentage of the market. In September 2011, however, Ford discontinued the Crown Victoria in favor of the 6th-generation Taurus. This has helped Dodge reclaim leadership in the market with the Dodge Charger Pursuit, as of 2012.
Non-Crown Victoria police vehicles may be bought to diversify a police department's fleet in order to better minimize disruption should a recall occur.
Despite some primarily Canadian jurisdictions electing to use front-wheel-drive sedans with smaller engines –– mainly the Chevrolet Impala, the current iteration of which being a V6 –– the rear-wheel-drive V8 configuration is still widely preferred, due in part to its consistency with pursuit driver training, as well as generally greater reliability. Furthermore, trials with FWD vehicles such as the Taurus and Impala have proven problematic in terms of maintenance costs. In 1994, for example, a Ford spokeswoman noted that "It is certainly true that any front-wheel-drive car would be more expensive and difficult to maintain, if you subjected it to the kind of hard use they get in police departments."
Usage
In some areas of the world, the police car has become more widely used than police officers "walking the beat." Placing officers in vehicles also allows them to carry more equipment — such as automated external defibrillators for people in cardiac arrest or road cones for traffic obstructions — and allows for more immediate transport of suspects to holding facilities. Vehicles also allow for the transport of larger numbers of personnel, such as a SWAT team.
Decommissioned police cars are often sold to the general public, either through a police autction or a private seller after about 3–5 years of use. Such cars are usually sold relatively cheaply due to the extremely high mileage on such cars, in some cases exceeding the 300,000-mile mark. In some cases, the cars are re-purposed as a taxicab as an inexpensive way for cab companies to buy cars instead of fleet vehicle services. In all cases, the cars are stripped of their police markings as well as most internal equipment; however, the engines are usually left intact and are often larger engines than their civilian counterparts.
Appearance
North American police cars were once noted for being painted black and white, but not just limited to black and white vehicles with the car doors and roof painted white, while the trunk, hood, front fenders and rear quarter panels were painted black. The fleet vehicles that were used typically came painted in a single color — most commonly white or black — from the factory and were used as such. The contrasting black or white color was added to make the vehicle stand out from civilian vehicles. In 2007, the Ontario Provincial Police began converting its fleet back to a black-and-white scheme after decades of using other colors and varieties of paint jobs. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends — but does not require — that local law enforcement agencies employ a uniform black and white vehicle color scheme for ease of visual identification nationwide.
Beginning in the 1970s, police vehicle markings have become increasingly stylistic, with the widespread use of computer graphics and vinyl striping. While black and white designs are still in use in many jurisdictions, cars may range from being all white to completely black. Blues and greens of various hues are also frequently used. Brown, beiges and tans are favored by rural police and sheriff's offices.
Official markings also vary by jurisdiction. The side doors and sometimes the hood of a marked police car usually bear the agency's badge or the city seal, often in reflective finish. Markings such as emergency telephone numbers, generic anti-drug or anti-crime messages or even website URLs are also common. Some agencies also have identification numbers printed on the roofs of patrol cars for tracking from aircraft or to distinguish specialized units, such as K-9 units or supervisors.
Currently, in the United States and Canada, the paint scheme for each fleet is determined either by the individual agency or by uniform state legislation as in Minnesota. Usually, state laws exist that establish standards for police vehicle markings and proscribe civilian vehicles from using certain markings or paint schemes as is the case in California.
Today, most fleet markings on patrol vehicles are created from reflective vinyl with an adhesive backing that is applied in a peel-and-stick manner. Colors chosen to represent the department's identity are typically chosen by the individual department, although, as noted above, some states have specific guidelines for color schemes and markings. Vinyl used to produce fleet markings comes in large rolls that are fed through a plotter (cutter) or large-format printer/cutter. The designs are created in specialized computer software and sent to the machines via cable link for production. Once the design is cut into the vinyl, the excess vinyl on the sheet is removed in a process called "weeding." Finally, a paper pre-mask is applied to the top of the vinyl design to allow easy application of multiple letters and shapes at one time.
Many enforcement agencies now use some "ghost cars" or "stealth cars" with smooth tops and minimal graphics for traffic enforcement. These vehicles have markings that are visible only at certain angles, such as from the rear or sides, making these cars appear unmarked when viewed from the front. These vehicles may meet the letter of the law as marked patrol vehicles, but are not as easily identifiable at a distance as a regular marked police vehicle. For public safety reasons, some jurisdictions do not allow officers in unmarked cars to pull over drivers. The graphics on a ghost car — minimal though they may be — are deemed sufficient in some jurisdictions to identify the vehicle as a legitimate police vehicle. Depending on the jurisdiction, such vehicles may or may not be permitted to engage in pursuits.
Patrol cars
The car that replaces walking for the “beat” police officer. Their primary function is to convey normal police officers between their duties, such as taking statements or visiting warnings. Patrol cars are also able to respond to emergencies and as such are normally fitted with visual and audible warnings.
Response or pursuit cars
A response car is similar to a patrol car, but is likely to be of a higher specification, capable of higher speeds and will certainly be fitted with audible and visual warnings. These cars are usually only used to respond to emergency incidents, so are designed to travel fast and may carry specialist equipment, such as assault rifles or shotguns. In the UK, each station usually only has one, which is called an Area car.
Traffic cars
Traffic police cars, known in the UK as Road Policing Units, are cars designed for the job of enforcing traffic laws, and as such, usually have the highest performance of any of the police vehicles — as they must be capable of catching most other vehicles on the road. They may be fitted with special bumpers designed to force vehicles off the road and may have visual and audible warnings, with special audible warnings which can be heard from a greater distance. In some police forces, the term traffic car may refer to cars specifically equipped for traffic control in addition to enforcing traffic laws. As such, these cars may differ only slightly from a patrol car, including having radar and laser speed detection equipment, traffic cones, flares and traffic control signs.
Sport utility vehicles or SUVs and pickup trucks
SUVs and pickups are used for a variety of reasons — off-road needs, applications where a lot of equipment must be carried, K-9 units, etc. Some police departments use pickup trucks with cages for animal control units.
Community liaison cars
This is a standard production car, visibly marked, but without audible and visual warning devices. It is used by community police officers to show a presence, transport them between jobs and make appearances at community events. These cars do not respond to emergencies.
Unmarked cars
Many forces also operate unmarked cars, in any of the roles shown above, but most frequently for the use of traffic enforcement or detectives. They have the advantage of not being immediately recognizable and are a valuable tool in catching criminals while the crime is still taking place. In the United States, unmarked cars are also used by federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and the Secret Service, but can be recognized by their U.S. government plates, however they often have normal license plates. All unmarked cars bear license plates. Many U.S. jurisdictions use regular civilian issued license plates on unmarked cars, especially gang suppression and vice prevention units. Unmarked vehicles can range from normal patrol vehicles: Ford Explorer, Dodge Charger, Ford Crown Victoria, Chevrolet Impala, etc., to completely unmarked foreign vehicles: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, etc.
There have been cases where criminals have pulled over motorists while pretending to be driving unmarked police cars, a form of police impersonation. Some U.S. police officers advise motorists that they do not have to pull over in a secluded location and instead can wait until they reach somewhere safer. In the UK, officers must be wearing a uniform to make traffic stops. Motorists can also ask for a police badge and peace officer identification. Motorists often have the option to call a non-emergency number like Police 101 in the UK or if the country does not have one, the emergency number. This telephone call can then be used to verify that the police car and officer or officers are genuine.
Sleeper cars or Q-cars
A sleeper (U.S. English) or Q-car (British English) is a car that has high performance and an unassuming exterior. Sleeper cars are so called because their exterior looks similar or identical to a standard or economy-class car. In some cases, the car appears worse due to seeming neglect on the owner's part, typically referred to as "all go and no show." While appearing to be a standard or neglected car, internally they are modified to have higher performance levels. The American nomenclature comes from the term sleeper agent, while the British term derives from the Q-ships used by the Royal Navy.
In the photo above, the third-generation Mercury Marauder is the performance version of the Mercury Grand Marquis.
In the February 1963 “Motor Sport” magazine editor Bill Boddy said "the modifications carried out by Lotus have turned the Lotus Cortina into an unmarked Q-car par excellence." The British film “The Long Arm” in 1956 mentions a Q-car patrolling the city by night, indicating that the term was in use among UK law enforcement at least a decade earlier.
In July 1964, British magazine “Motorcycle Mechanics” carried an announcement from editor Bill Lawless of the use of two unmarked police Q-cars — a black Daimler SP250 sports car and a green Austin A40 Farina — patrolling the A20 between London and Maidstone, Kent.
Dog Squad cars or K9 units
This type of car is used to transport police dogs. In some jurisdictions, this will be a station wagon or car based van, due to the installation of cages to carry the dogs. These units may also be known as K9 units — a homophone of canine, also used to refer to the animals themselves. These cars are typically marked to warn people that there is a police dog on board.
Surveillance cars
Forces may operate surveillance cars. These cars can be marked or unmarked and are there to gather evidence of any criminal offence. Overt marked cars may have CCTV cameras mounted on the roof to discourage wrongdoing, whereas unmarked cars would have them hidden inside. This type of vehicle is particularly common in the United Kingdom. In the United States, some police departments' vice, narcotic, and gang suppression units utilize vehicles that contain no identifiable police equipment — such as lights, sirens or radios — to conduct covert surveillance. Some police vehicles equipped with surveillance are bait cars which are deployed in high volume car theft areas.
High visibility decoy police cars
Some police forces use vehicles — or sometimes fake cutouts of vehicles — to deter crime. They may be old vehicles retired from use, stock models restyled as police cars or a metal sign made to look like a police car. They are placed in areas thought to be susceptible to crime in order to provide a high visibility presence without committing an officer. Examples of these can be seen on many main roads, freeways and motorways. In 2005, Virginia's legislature considered a bill which stated, in part: "Whenever any law enforcement vehicle is permanently taken out of service ... such vehicle shall be placed at a conspicuous location within a highway median in order to deter violations of motor vehicle laws at that location. Such vehicles shall ... be rotated from one location to another as needed to maintain their deterrent effect." Such cars may also be used in conjunction with manned units hidden further down the road to trick speeders into speeding back up again and being clocked by the manned car. In Chicago, Illinois a small fleet of highly visible vans are parked alongside major state and federal routes with automated speed detection and camera equipment, monitoring both for speeders and other offenders by license plate. Tickets are then mailed to the offenders or — in case of other crimes related to the licensed owner — may be served by a manned vehicle further down the road.
Demonstration cars
Demonstration cars are not for active duty, but simply for display. These are often high performance or modified cars, sometimes seized from criminals, used to try to get across specific messages — such as with the D.A.R.E. program — or to help break down barriers with certain groups, such as using a car with modified “jumping” suspension as a talking point with young people.
To show the police what is new, a marked police car with the manufacturer's name — Ford, General Motors, Chrysler — can be displayed with the words "Not In Service" to show what is new with that model of car and get feedback from police departments. Companies like Whelen, Federal Signal and Code 3 also have demo cars with their names on the side showing the police what is new in the field of emergency vehicle equipment.
Riot control vehicles
These vehicles could be divided into three sub-categories. Modified trucks equipped with water cannons, modified stock cars and modified Armored Personnel Carriers. Their function is to help control riots. Modified stock cars will have caged windows for protection against objects thrown at them and could include mini-buses, 4x4s or prisoner transport vans. APCs usually will not require any added protection, but their modifications might include some sort of tear gas ejecting method or shields that unfold to create barriers. The water cannon vehicles are used either to break up riots or extinguish fires set by the rioters. Although plain water is usually used, some variations might include tear gas or special dye to mark the people that are present for later apprehension. Previously fire trucks were used as anti-riot vehicles of this type. As a non-lethal and effective method of clearing out protesters or rioters, the Long Range Acoustic Device can be used. The LRAD is a device that can send announcements, warnings and harmful pain-inducing tones.
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