Crown Victoria Cruisers Ruled Safe by Ill. Jury

In a class-action lawsuit filed over the safety of Ford’s Crown Victoria police cruisers, an Illinois jury ruled that the cars are safe. A judge will now decide if Ford violated state consumer fraud laws.

Street Survivors

While it’s outstanding to survive a crash, it’s even better to avoid one in the first place, and that’s where good training and situational awareness feature heavily. But carmakers and their design teams play a role in officer safety as well. Let’s take a look at what the Big 3 American police car manufacturers are doing to make their cars safer for the nation’s law enforcement personnel.

Adamson Industries Flare Storage Box

Ford to Offer Fire Suppression Option in 2005 Police Vehicles

Ford plans to offer a fire-suppression system originally developed for military vehicles on its 2005 Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. In response to complaints of rear-impact car collisions causing fuel-tank fires in Ford police cruisers, the company has pledged to correct the problem with this most recent development.

Beating the Power Crunch

Electrical demands are a major concern with law enforcement vehicles. This was true with early police vehicles when lighting, electro-mechanical "growler" sirens, and two-way radios severely taxed automotive electrical systems, and it's true today when high-tech lightbars, mobile data terminals, video cameras, and other power-hungry gadgets have become standard equipment.

Office Space

"I don't believe it! There's actually room in these cars! Why, I can sit here; I can put my briefcase next to me, and I even have room for my partner!" That's what my partner exclaimed at the end of a shift back in the early '80s. That old Malibu was positively empty compared to modern patrol units.

2003 Michigan Vehicle Tests

Each fall the big three of U.S. police car makers turn their latest models over to test drivers from the Michigan State Police for comprehensive evaluations at the DaimlerChrysler proving grounds in Chelsea, Mich., and timed laps at Grattan Raceway in Belding, Mich.

Roadmaster Coil Pro Suspension

Decatur Electronics Gemini Headliner Video System

Performance Review--Road Testing the 2002 Cop Cars

No one other than a patrol officer is better able to understand the vital role of a police vehicle in today's law enforcement. The wrong vehicle can affect officer morale, reduce efficiency and increase a department's operating costs appreciably.