Are Police Vehicles Customized for the Police?

Police vehicles are indispensable tools in maintaining public order, ensuring community safety, and responding to emergencies. While these vehicles require specialized modifications, their primary purpose is to enhance functionality, safety, and operational efficiency. This article explores the extent to which police vehicles are customized and if they are modified for performance.

Customizations for Functionality and Safety

Police cars undergo significant modifications to meet the unique demands of their job. These changes include the addition of specialized equipment such as emergency lighting, sirens, and radios, all designed to operate effectively in challenging environments. Additionally, police departments often add mounts to secure suspects, lock shotgun positions, and install security panels for added safety. In K9 units, custom cages are added to protect the canine. Some vehicles are even modified to carry extra gear, such as locked storage boxes in SUVs, to facilitate better on-scene operations.

Exterior Police Lighting and Badging

The vehicles are also equipped with comprehensive exterior police lighting, including pillar-mounted spotlights. Furthermore, "badging" and distinctive markings are added to identify the vehicle's police status. These modifications are typically carried out by the police department to ensure that the vehicle is easily recognizable to the public and fellow officers.

No Significant Performance Modifications

Contrary to popular belief, police vehicles are not modified for performance purposes. Instead, they purchase fleet vehicles directly from manufacturers. The modifications made are primarily for functionality and safety, not to enhance the vehicle's speed or handling. For instance, slightly stiffer suspensions, higher speed-rated tires, and larger radiators are implemented to improve ride quality and handling under emergency conditions. Other modifications include vinyl seats and rubber floor mats to facilitate easy cleaning.

Performance-Related Modifications

While the article previously mentioned the occasional exceptions, such as the Ford Taurus AWD, which features a 3.7L engine for the police version (compared to the 3.5L for civilians), the vast majority of police vehicles do not undergo significant performance modifications. The 1994-1996 Caprice, for example, had the same 260hp, 330 lb-ft torque engine as the civilian Impala SS. Similarly, the Ford Taurus AWD and Tahoe used by police often retain similar engines to civilian versions, indicating that performance is not a primary concern.

Urban Legends and Myths Surrounding Police Vehicle Modifications

There have been persistent urban legends about police departments 'de-modifying' cars before they are retired and sold to the public. According to these myths, the police would remove turbos and superchargers and reprogram computers to eliminate supercar performance. However, these claims are baseless. The only significant 'de-mod' involves removing sirens and lighting equipment, rather than complex performance-related modifications. Some retired police cars, particularly taxis, still retain some of the equipment, indicating that thorough de-modification is rarely, if ever, performed.

Conclusion

In summary, police vehicles undergo substantial modifications for functionality and safety, but not for performance. These modifications are made to ensure that officers can navigate safely, respond effectively to emergencies, and maintain public order. As such, the urban legends surrounding performance modifications are simply myths. Efficient police vehicle operations are achieved through practical and necessary customizations, rather than enhancements aimed at speed or performance.