Vehicles: Page 7

Police EVOC Trainers Give Driving Notes on the 2011 Patrol Cars

Drivers from the Los Angeles Sheriff's annual vehicle testing provided driving notes, which are concise observations that read like a Zagat restaurant review entry, as one element of their evaluation of the performance and safety features of the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV, 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit, and 2012 Ford Police Interceptor sedan.

An EVOC driver with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department prepares to test the Ford P.I. prototype. Photo: Paul Clinton.

Military Surplus Vehicles Aid the Fight

Law enforcement agencies with these special missions can apply and acquire vehicles deemed military surplus for next to nothing. The vehicles usually require work to make them duty ready. Yet, the Department of Defense's 1033 program, as it is known, offers agencies access to military-grade equipment.

The Ocean Shores (Wash.) Police Department acquired a HMMWV for community relations work with its D.A.R.E. program.

Should Patrol Cars Be More Fuel Efficient?

Without releasing specific mpg ratings for its new patrol vehicles, the company announced the sedan would offer a 20% improvement on fuel usage over the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

Photo: Alex Landeen.

Arizona Dealer Offers Kawasaki ZG1400 Enforcer

The ZG1400 Enforcer adds "drop bars" to protect the bike during cone-pattern training and cuts back to one battery to power its electronic police gear. The bike arrives with a radio kill switch so an officer can preserve battery life when booking a subject or processing a DUI.

Kawasaki Enforcer Side

Glide Cruisers for Campus Patrol

The Defender is the base cruiser with a 48-volt motor, 15Ah Lithium battery, and 25-mile range. The Enforcer adds a higher-capacity battery (20Ah Lithium), extending the range to 30 miles. Both can reach a top speed of 32 mph.

Pol G2 Patrol 1

Texas Agency's Auxiliary Charging Keeps Cruisers Running

The Tomball PD implemented a plug-in solution that feeds enough juice to cruiser batteries when they're parked, and conditions the batteries so they don't overcharge, giving the cars just the right electrical charge to power the vehicle, low-voltage Whelen LED light bars, Mobile Data Computers (MDCs) and radio gear.

Photos courtesy of Tomball PD.

Final Michigan Vehicle Test Report Arrives

The Precision Driving Unit tested 18 patrol vehicles for acceleration, braking, high-speed handling, and other tests. Four motorcycles were included in the group.

Photo courtesy of Michigan State Police.

Driving In Nasty Weather

Weather is a hazard that must be managed by law enforcement officers, especially when driving patrol vehicles. Lt. Keith Wilson, who oversees the Michigan State Police's Precision Driving Unit, provided a few suggestions, so officer safety will be top of mind when operating your vehicle in nasty weather.

Image via Flickr (contrasto_gp).

9 Tales of Patrol Vehicle Cheer

We asked members of the POLICE Magazine Facebook page if they have decorated their patrol vehicle in a seasonal theme. We were pleasantly surprised by the stories you told us, one of which involved a "decapitated Santa head."

Photo courtesy of Ronald Lunn.

L.A. County Sheriff Tests 2011-12 Patrol Vehicles

The same vehicles tested in Michigan — new entries included Ford's 2012 Police Interceptors, Chevrolet's 2011 Caprice PPV, and Kawasaki's Concours 14P motorcycle — arrived in Fontana along with two rear-axle ratio 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit cars, Honda's ST1300 motorcycle, and an alt-fuel conversion Ford Crown Vic.

Ford Motor Co. brought its 2012 Police Interceptor turbo to the test track. Because it was originally a development model, this car still wears a camouflage pattern that prevents its body styling being shown in photographs.

Could Your Patrol Car Be Hacked?

A hacker could manipulate a police vehicle's fuel level gauge, falsify the speedometer reading, display arbitrary dashboard messages, dial-up the heat or A/C, lock passengers in the car, continuously blare the horn, pop the trunk, turn off the lights, activate the windshield wipers, disable the brakes, selectively brake individual wheels on demand, and stop the engine.

Photo via notelse (Flickr).

Ford PI Batmobile Inspired by Stealth Aircraft

Ford produced the "sleek, streamlined and slightly sinister" concept version to debut at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) trade show, which runs from Tuesday to Friday.

Ford produced a 'stealth' version of its 2012 Police Interceptor as a show (not production) vehicle. Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Co.

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