Posted on 01/18/2014 12:00:34 PM PST by rickmichaels
TORONTO - Toronto Police are downsizing.
Most of its big Ford Crown Victoria cruisers – which have not been built since 2011— will likely be retired by 2016.
Until then, Const. Wendy Drummond said officers will road test smaller cars and SUVs to determine the best type of replacements.
Despite being on the road for months, many people have not seen the Toronto Police-marked test autos.
Drummond said four Taurus “Police Interceptors” and two Ford Explorers are driven on regular patrols, which allow “for the collection of data.”
Older-style 5.4-by-1.96 metre, V-8 Crown Victoria “Police Interceptors” have a 2.9-metre wheel base and are 1.4 metres tall.
The front-wheel-drive 2014 Taurus measures 5.15-by-1.9 metres, is 1.54 metres tall, and has a 2.86-metre wheel base. Two beefed-up 3.5-litre V6 engines are offered.
Departments across Canada and the United States, which share information through a “police co-operative purchasing group” — whose members also attend squad car trials hosted each fall by the Michigan State Police — have good reason to need different vehicles, which also include General Motors and Chrysler cruisers.
Produced in St. Thomas, Ont. for global law enforcement use, “Crown Vics” were the last full-sized real-wheel-drive North American cop cars, after General Motors discontinued its four-door V-8 Chevrolet Caprice in 1996.
Thousands of the Fords are still on patrol, but will soon reach the end of the road.
Guidelines that restrict police use on the hours an engine has operated, plus mileage and overall condition, maintain safety standards and reduce time lost due to mounting repairs needed by older vehicles — especially those as hard-driven as cruisers.
To maintain its fleet, Toronto Police paid $5 million for 300 Crowns in 2011.
The bulk order provided “$1.5 million in savings,” Drummond said. Stored and regularly test-run, “we were able to deploy those vehicles over the last three years.”
Other forces have bought competitors’ smaller vehicles for several years, including the OPP, who also use SUVs.
In 2009, GM announced a new Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV). Based on the Holden Caprice, the V-8 powered four-door Chevrolets are imported from Australia.
Chrysler’s new rear-wheel-drive, V-6 or V-8 Dodge Charger hit the road in 2006.
Some officers complain of feeling cramped due to their bulky personal equipment plus computer consoles. Many don’t like front–wheel drive while others have lauded the smaller cars.
Drummond said a decision on new replacement cars is expected in November.
In keeping with the environmentally conscious times, they will now drive smart cars, prius, and volts.
Nah,...two man bicycles.
As seems to be the new wave in law enforcement, if you shoot the ones you would have taken to jail in the past, you don’t need so large a car. Kinda makes sense. They’re just looking out for the taxpayers.
A lot of the LEOs here in Indiana are quite overweight.
Of course maybe management needs to lead by example.
For pursuit purposes -- it really doesn't matter what they drive, you simply cannot outrun police radio.
Now response times to home burglaries, etc.. are another story entirely. No substitute for HP and torque in those situations.
Going after speeders
Segway with a radio flyer wagon in tow.
How can you have a proper chase scene with front wheel drive cop cars?
THE INTIMIDATOR
Leni
“YOU on the roller skates! Pull over now!”
*Doesn’t wait for skater to comply, pit maneuvers him into the bushes*
Well, you’d think they would at least go for an
all electric...
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