High-Tech Cars Aid Police
Capt. Thomas Mauro of the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Police Department says the department buys five to six new vehicles per year.
The department operates 16 marked vehicles, including a SWAT Truck. Mauro, who witnessed technological improvements to police vehicles during four decades of service, notes in-vehicle technology offers a lot of advantages to officers.
Patrol vehicles were only equipped with police radios when Mauro first joined the force, but are now also equipped with computers, cell phones, radar, and video equipment.
In addition, police cars use longer-lasting tires, transmission and oil coolers, and a better breaking system than normal vehicles, according to former officer Bill Galbraith.
Mauro adds that seats are also customized to provide officers more comfort during long hours.
Police cars typically last two years or 100,000 miles; Poughkeepsie’s police cars are in use 24 hours a day. The town receives state and federal grants to help offset the cost of purchasing additional vehicles each year. Police vehicles are transferred to other town agencies when they are retired from law enforcement operations.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Poughkeepsie Journal (12/30/03) P. 1a; Valkys, Michael .
