A police agency in southern California is currently deploying Tesla Model Y electric vehicles as patrol cars, and the outfitter who assisted them in becoming law enforcement ready is looking ahead to the future with Cybertrucks.
Four of the six Model Ys ordered by the Anaheim Police Department are now patrolling the streets as part of a test program. Sgt. Jacob Gallacher told Fox News Digital that they were requested due to “national supply chain issues” with Ford, and the data gathered will assist the department decide whether to integrate more electric vehicles into its fleet.
When you combine aged patrol cars and delivery delays with supply chain concerns, the department faced a fleet shortfall. Anaheim PD collaborated with connected vendor UP.FIT, a branch of Unplugged Performance, to prepare the cars they ordered directly from Tesla for patrol service.
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“We had to look for alternative vehicle options, which led us to consider using Teslas as police vehicles,” Chief Rick Aremendariz stated in an April press statement. “We are enhancing public safety for Anaheim by getting patrol vehicles into service faster.”
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An aerial picture of a Tesla Model Y retrofitted for Anaheim Police Department by UP.FIT.
The Model Y was chosen because to its “advanced features” such as quick acceleration, storage capacity, affordability, and low maintenance requirements, according to the department.
Back in May, the South Pasadena Police Department announced that they, too, would be using Teslas, purchasing 20 for patrols, investigation work, and other activities. The plan calls for the purchase of 10 Tesla Model Y automobiles, 10 Model 3 cars, and 30 charging stations.
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A Texas police department tweeted earlier this year that they, too, wanted to go electric.
“What do you think, @elonmusk?” Will the #Cybertruck be a good police vehicle?” Rosenberg Police stationed on X.
UP.FIT is responding to the call, introducing the “world’s first Tesla Cybertruck Patrol vehicle ready for use by public safety officials everywhere” on June 7, according to a news release. The business advises that the vehicle be used by more than just police and fire departments, including military and tactical response services.
Significant engineering leap into the future, and we’re pleased to provide law enforcement agencies the future of policing,” said Ben Schaffer, CEO of Unplugged Performance, in a statement. “We’ve been thrilled with the direct feedback from police departments that have participated in our Cybertruck development and we look forward to deploying these complete UP.FIT vehicles to law enforcement agencies across the nation this year.”
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