Foreign cars used as police cars? (2009, Japanese, SUV, buy)

[MKE-Ed]

Greetings,
With japanese and european cars gaining market share and the domestics losing it, has there been any instances of any police agencies in the United States going with the forign brands and abandoning the domestic ones? It seems that all the police departments in the country use Fords, Chevys and Dodge as police cruisers.

[Bydand]

I know Augusta, Maine had a couple Volvo Cruisers years ago. I remember seeing them back in the 90's, don't know what they drive now.

[BrianH]

Not here, local PD just switched to the Impala because they have to buy the fords in group, which is hard to do in an 8 cop town :S Sad really, I like the P71.

[CodyW]

I think there was one department back east that got some Impreza sti's. Not sure.

[Steve Bagu]

When the President of the US has a Mercedes Benz as a Limo...then you will see some foreign make cars as police crusiers.

[yachtcare]

My locals use Fords as the everyday "blue and white" with some Chevy pick ups and SUV's thrown in. Dodge Chargers for unmarked traffic control. When something big goes down, it is not uncommon to see un marked Camry's, Accord's, Kia's etc, with flashing red and blue strobes well hidden behind the grills. Never see 'em on a traffic stop, but big brother IS watching, and can be right beside you in my town......

[wanneroo]

Vail Colorado had Saabs for years.

[Sayantsi]

Cops buy the American cars because they are big enough to hold equipment, durable, easy to fix, and cheap. They also have a number of other makes thanks to drug busts and possessions of convicted peopl's cars. I usually see these "exotic" police cars on 95/85 in SC, some Japanese, also Escalades and bling mobiles. VA has a small fleet of Civics on 95 from what I've seen, but that's all highway patrol. All city police/sherrifs typically have he standard American fare.

[RangerDuke08]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Vail Colorado had Saabs for years.

Vail and Aspen officers also get paid $80,000. I've seen an unmarked Japanese brand police car once in a while, believe it belongs to State, still can't chase down the agency though.

Mind you it wasn't even a Subaru, but something like a Camry which baffles me and I had a friend pulled over by it once. But for the most part, we got the crown vics still, a few out of date impalas and a couple chevy SUVs. I do like the Dodger Chargers, I imagine they will be the norm as long as Dodge doesn't liquidate.

[sunsprit]

Vail's Saab fleet was subsidized by Saab as a marketing test. When Vail had to buy the cars in competitive bids, the Saabs went away ....

Aspen also got Saab's starting in the 1970's, but continued using them until recently when they starting changing over to Volvo XC90's.

I've seen several unmarked Colo Highway Patrol Saabs in the mountain areas, but they seem to be part of a mixed fleet of cars to "blend in" for traffic patrol ... hidden lights in grills and light enclosures, minimal light bar on top ...

TOV Police Dept is hiring in Jan 2009, and the hourly pay is $25.30/hour + benefits.