Not only do we dive into the latest news, stories, trends and gadgets, but we show you the industry leding companies that provide them all. Keep reading, it is a real pageturner.
Company Information
Signal Business Group LLC PO Box 454 Thiensville WI 53092-0454 www.signalbusinessgroup.com Phone: 847-922-9371
Owner/Group Publisher Pete Kingwill pkingwill@signalbusinessgroup.com
Editorial Directors
Kirk Moen kmoen@signalbusinessgroup.com
Pete Kingwill pkingwill@signalbusinessgroup.com
Contributing Writers Brad Brewer bbrewer@signalbusinessgroup.com
Jen Gavigan jengavigan@comcast.net
Police Fleet Expo - Trade Show Director Lisa McDade lmcdade@signalbusinessgroup.com
Police Fleet Expo - Trade Show Management
Lisa McDade lmcdade@signalbusinessgroup.com
Pete Kingwill pkingwill@signalbusinessgroup.com
Kirk Moen kmoen@signalbusinessgroup.com
All Advertising & Booth Sales
Kirk Moen kmoen@signalbusinessgroup.com
Social Media Manager Meghan McDade mmcdade@signalbusinessgroup.com
Website Design/Management Michaletz Zwief, Ltd.
Magazine Design/Layout
Chris Quinn chris@quinnconcepts.com
Contact Info
Pete Kingwill Owner/Group Publisher pkingwill@signalbusinessgroup.com
Mobile: 224-805-6022
Lisa McDade Trade Show Manager lmcdade@signalbusinessgroup.com Mobile: 847-922-9371
Kirk Moen National Director kmoen@signalbusinessgroup.com Mobile: 608-770-6364
Meghan McDade Social Media Manager mmcdade@signalbusinessgroup.com
Police Fleet Professional is a digital publication distributed quarterly (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) by Signal Business Group LLC.
Signal Business Group is a business-tobusiness media company serving law enforcement and public safety…connecting key buyers and sellers through digital and print products, webinars, streaming platforms, focus groups and trade show engagements (including education, networking activities and events).
In 2022, Signal Business Group acquired Hendon Media Group and all of its assets, including Police Fleet Expo, magazines, databases, newsletters, websites and more.
Aug 14-17, 202 New Orleans
Welcome to the first of issue of Police Fleet Professional Magazine (formerly Police Fleet Manager Magazine).
Story by Pete Kingwill Principal Signal Business Group LLC
Welcome to the first of issue of Police Fleet Professional Magazine (formerly Police Fleet Manager Magazine).
So why the name change?
This is something we have been considering for several years. While many of you who read our publication have the title of Police Fleet Manager, Fleet Director, or Fleet Administrator…others have the title of Fleet Technician, Upfitter and Radio Installer as well as Captain, Lieutenant, and Sergeant (who are now directly responsible for police vehicles).
You are all Police Fleet Professionals.
Police Fleet Professional Magazine is the only publication dedicated to covering the police fleet market
by providing a platform for sharing ideas and reporting on critical issues that Fleet Managers (and others) face every day. It is designed to serve as a primary resource tool for those that are directly responsible for the purchase, integration and maintenance of police vehicles and vehiclerelated accessories.
One of the biggest fleet discussions, happening within police departments, is whether to transition to electric vehicles (EV’s) and/or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV’s) and how to do it effectively. New York City, for example, recently confirmed plans to buy over 1,250 electric vehicles… transitioning all law enforcement vehicles to electric, by 2035. Key motivations for transitioning to EVs include significant cost savings on fuel and maintenance expenses, superior performance, enhanced safety features and positive health and environmental impacts.
health and environmental impacts.
Additional coverage includes such topics as specialty vehicle upfitting solutions, vehicle testing results, latest reports from the Big 3 (GM, Ford and Dodge Law/ Stellantis), better fuel efficiency options, profiles of current Fleet Managers (and others), vehicle storage solutions, new products and much more.
Make sure you check out and register for Police Fleet Expo 2023, which will take place August 14-17, in New Orleans, LA. This 4-day interactive conference & expo offers DriveX (our ride & drive event at NOLA Motorsports Park), relevant educational sessions, multiple networking opportunities, some great one-on-one time with key companies
serving the police fleet market…and much more. You can register at www. policefleetexpo.com.
We are very excited about what we are
Police Fleet Expo 2023 brings together the largest group of Police Fleet Managers with vehicle manufacturers and equipment manufacturers and suppliers. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of the only Expo that is exclusive to all aspects of Police Fleet management.
seeing in the market and we can’t wait to introduce you to some new products and companies that are innovating and improving products and systems…that will, hopefully, help make your job more productive and efficient.
If you have a great story to share or an idea about a topic you would like to see covered in a future issue of Police Fleet Professional Magazine, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Pete KingwillPrincipal
Signal Business Group LLC
Police Fleet Professional Magazine
Police Fleet Expo
E: pkingwill@signalbusinessgroup.com
New Orleans & NOLA Motorsports Park To Host Police Fleet Expo (Aug 14-17, 2023)
Mark your calendar and attend the only show, dedicated exclusively to the police fleet market! Police Fleet Expo 2023 (PFE) is a 4-day, interactive meeting event, where manufacturers display and demonstrate their latest products and services… and attendees participate in training sessions and receive important one-on-one time to see new products and get fresh ideas that can make a real difference in their job (and their agency). DriveX, the ride & drive portion of the Expo, will take place on Monday, Aug 14th, at NOLA Motorsports Park. PFE attracts and brings together key buyers such as Police Fleet Managers, Fleet Directors, Police Chiefs, Upfitters and others responsible for the purchase of police vehicles and the products that can go on and in those vehicles (from emergency vehicle lighting to radios…and everything in-between). To learn more or register, click here www.policefleetexpo.com.
Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Homecoming Festival (July 13-16, Milwaukee, WI)
Harley-Davidson, a major US motorcycle manufacturer that sells its bikes worldwide and provides to law enforcement police motorcycles such as the Harley-Davidson® Police Electra Glide®, has announced a 4-day festival to celebrate their 120th Anniversary, July 13-16, in Milwaukee WI. Some of the biggest names in music will provide live performances at Veterans Park including Foo Fighters, Green Day, Cody Jinks, Social Distortion, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Phantogram, White Reaper and KennyHoopla… along with other family friendly activities. To learn more visit www.harley-davidson.com.
The Los Angeles Police Department has begun to install new higher-definition video cameras in its patrol cars, part of an effort to vastly improve the clarity of the images and sounds recorded during officers’ encounters with the community. “The public in this day and age expects police departments to have cameras, it expects its police department to be transparent,” explained Deputy Chief John J. McMahon, who oversees the Information Technology Bureau. The new cameras capture a wide view of what’s happening in front of the patrol car, and at much higher resolution than previous systems. A second camera records anyone detained in the back seat of the car.
Safe Fleet, a leading supplier of safety solutions for fleet vehicles, has extended its upfit capabilities to the law enforcement market with the acquisition of Kerr Industries and its subsidiaries including Crown North America, which are leading vehicle upfitters serving the emergency and law enforcement markets. Kerr and Crown are experts in upfitting specialty vehicles for emergency and law enforcement markets. With upfit locations in Toronto, Dallas, Detroit, and Chicago, they partner with OEMs and other quality automotive parts and accessories manufacturers to deliver vehicles that are ready for duty, on time and on budget. For over 70 years, Kerr and Crown have combined market-leading engineering, quality and innovation with best-in-class products and exceptional service to deliver cost-effective solutions to customers. For more information, visit www.kerrindustries.com and www.safefleet.net.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently became the first federal agency to debut a battery electric vehicle (EV) fitted for performing law enforcement functions at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ Office of Cheltenham Operations. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is the first of a variety of EVs DHS plans to field across its varied law enforcement missions throughout the homeland. “DHS is leading the charge among federal agencies to transition its fleet vehicles from internal combustion engines to zero-emission electric vehicles. As the Nation’s third largest federal agency and largest law enforcement agency, DHS has an inventory of more than 50,000 vehicles, with law enforcement vehicles making up 60 percent of its fleet,” said Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien. “DHS is proud to be the first Federal agency to upfit a battery electric vehicle for law enforcement use. As we ramp up EV adoption, we are excited to see how this and other EVs perform for our mission.” “DHS is proactively seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, EVs have the potential to significantly improve federal fleet efficiency and reduce vehicle operation and maintenance costs,” said Acting Under Secretary for Management R. D. “Tex” Alles. “DHS is also looking to create climate-resilient facilities and infrastructure, and to continue transitioning the DHS vehicle fleet towards electrification in the years to come.”
Announcing the news before his retirement, deputy commissioner Robert Martinez called the transition to an all-SUV fleet… one of necessity and strategy. Ford, which has an $11.5 million, five-year contract with the department, has stopped making the “interceptor” sedans NYPD has used for years. Their replacement, a hybrid Ford Explorer SUV, will act as a placeholder until the city can take the 6,300-vehicle fleet fully electric with the Ford Mustang Mach-E…a small SUV that’s more like a station wagon (the city bought 185 Mach E-s in Dec 2021, but they have been buying hundreds of Explorers every year). The Explorer, technically the Ford Police Interceptor Utility Hybrid, with its larger profile and considerable height, is better suited to the job than the traditional sedan, Martinez told the New York Daily News. New York isn’t alone…since 2017, more than half of all police vehicles sold in the U.S. are copcustomized Explorers. The country’s next-largest department, Chicago, has jumped on the oversize bandwagon, with Ford relocating a factory in the city to build the police Explorers.
Setina Celebrates 60 Years
Setina Manufacturing, a leading producer of law enforcement vehicle equipment for agencies worldwide, celebrates a big milestone…60 years of serving law enforcement. Founded in 1963 by John R. Setina, a Vehicle Repair Specialist with the Washington State Patrol, John recognized the need for officer protection while transporting prisoners, as well as the need to reinforce the vehicle in the event of an accident (the original police partition was born). Today, Terry Setina (President) and Judy Setina (Vice President) bring more than 30 years of experience as they oversee and manage an expanded product line which includes push bumpers, fender guards, police bike racks, skid plates, partitions, firearm mounting, transport seating, door guards, window barriers, cargo storage and K9. Congratulations Setina! For more information, visit www.setina.com.
Semtech Corp Acquires Sierra Wireless
Semtech Corp, a leading global supplier of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms has acquired Sierra Wireless, Inc. a world-renowned Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider. This acquisition brings together two important technologies for the future of IoT – LoRa and cellular – to enable the digitization of the industrial world with a comprehensive chip-to-Cloud platform. Semtech expects the combination of Sierra Wireless’ cellular capabilities across its modules, gateways and managed connectivity together with Semtech’s LoRa-enabled end nodes to create a uniquely differentiated IoT portfolio which will enable a plethora of new IoT use cases to be conceived.
Gamber-Johnson Acquires Lind Electronics
Gamber-Johnson, LLC recently completed the acquisition of Lind Electronics. This follows the Gamber-Johnson acquisition of Premier Mounts of Corona, CA, in 2021. Gamber-Johnson is a leading worldwide supplier of rugged mounting solutions and cases that safely secure and protect mobile communication systems, computers and other electronic equipment in fleet and public safety vehicles, forklifts, semi-trucks and professional audiovisual applications. Gamber-Johnson’s products are used by law enforcement, enterprise, military and warehouse fleets around the globe. Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Lind Electronics is a manufacturer and supplier of rugged mobile power solutions to the public safety, U.S. Military and warehousing industries. Lind’s product offering includes rugged mobile power adapters, battery chargers, USB adapters, shutdown timers and cabling. To learn more, visit www.gamberjohnson.com and www.lindelectronics.com.
The NYPD’s new car design is a full U-turn from its classic old cruiser. The Big Apple police will soon hit the road in hightech new SUVs featuring 360-degree cameras and flashy green racing-style stripes. “The NYPD RMP is iconic,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said, referencing the department’s so-called radio motor patrol vehicles, at the annual State of the NYPD address at Cipriani’s in Midtown. The NYPD’s signature white-and-blue rides have made plenty of cameos on movies and TV shows, she said “Yet even icons are due for an update and change every now and then.” The freshly made-over rides are expected to roll out in early 2024, as the NYPD gradually retires its fleet of aging vehicles. “We are exploring potential design changes as we speak,” Sewell said. The cars will feature three green racing-style stripes near the vehicle’s rear wheel along with stars near its front wheel, inspired by the NYPD’s 100-plus-year-old flag. They will also include revamped interiors “for a more efficient and comfortable work environment for all officers,” Sewell added.
The RCMP’s (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) first fully electric police cruiser has entered service in Langford, B.C. The shiny new Tesla Model Y was unveiled Tuesday and will be used by the West Shore RCMP on southern Vancouver Island. Mounties say the vehicle is expected to reduce carbon emissions and the cost of fuel and maintenance compared to standard police vehicles. According to the West Shore RCMP, the average cost of fuel and maintenance for one of their cruisers was $11,100 in 2020, with prices rising alongside inflation since then. The West Shore RCMP is expecting to receive two more electric vehicles later this year, including a Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV and Ford F-150 truck.
The NYPD’s new car design is a full U-turn from its classic old cruiser. The Big Apple police will soon hit the road in hightech new SUVs featuring 360-degree cameras and flashy green racing-style stripes. “The NYPD RMP is iconic,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said, referencing the department’s so-called radio motor patrol vehicles, at the annual State of the NYPD address at Cipriani’s in Midtown. The NYPD’s signature white-and-blue rides have made plenty of cameos on movies and TV shows, she said “Yet even icons are due for an update and change every now and then.”
The fastest police car today is not what you might expect, and this car is everywhere. It is the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, which is the best-selling Police vehicle in America. Because of the similarities between the Interceptor Utility EcoBoost and the Ford Explorer, many people confuse these two cars with each other. After all, on any given day, you might drive by a soccer mom picking up her kids from school in a Ford Explorer. So it might surprise you to know that the nearly identical-looking Ford P.I. Utility is the fastest car the American police force currently has on the road. While the modern police force also has cars like the Dodge Charger pursuit, it is the Ford Police Interceptor Utility with a whopping 148 mph top speed, which is the fastest police car today.
The Hanford, California, Police Department will sublease and upfit 11 pursuit-rated Dodge Durangos for its fleet. It will come at an estimated cost of $896,000 (according to the Hanford Setinel). Police staff explained that the sublease agreement between the city and Enterprise Fleet Management would reduce the need for major repairs when using older police vehicles, and will be more cost effective. Any new vehicles subleased under the agreement will be replaced within five years, but there will be a credit provided to the city for future subleases…if the car is replaced before the five-year lease expires.
The Los Angeles Police Department has begun to install new higher-definition video cameras in its patrol cars, part of an effort to vastly improve the clarity of the images and sounds recorded during officers’ encounters with the community. “The public in this day and age expects police departments to have cameras, it expects its police department to be transparent,” explained Deputy Chief John J. McMahon, who oversees the Information Technology Bureau. The new cameras capture a wide view of what’s happening in front of the patrol car, and at much higher resolution than previous systems. A second camera records anyone detained in the back seat of the car.
Founded in 1963 by John R. Setina, Setina Manufacturing Company is one of the most respected names in law enforcement vehicle equipment, setting industry standards through technological advancements and innovative design solutions. Setina’s extensive line of products provides the police fleet community a total solution in terms of vehicle upfitting. From full to mid-size SUVs, sedans, trucks, and vans, they have products to fit any department’s need.
Founder John Setina previously had 17 years of experience as a Vehicle Repair Specialist with the Washington State Patrol Automotive Division. He also owned his own body repair business when the State Patrol recognized his expertise and recruited him. While performing his duties in designing and building roll bars for the Washington State Patrol Cadet Driver Training Program, John saw the need for officer protection while transporting prisoners, and the need to reinforce the vehicle in the event of an accident.
Combining his inventive spirit and engineering ability, John Setina began working on his idea at night and on weekends in his garage. During this time, John designed the first Setina products and received his first patent, Bodyguard Partitions that incorporate a roll bar-type framework with various polymer window configurations. This was the first Police Vehicle Partition Patent of its type awarded by the U.S. Patent Office. Since that original patent, Setina has been awarded many other patents in 60 years of designing and manufacturing law enforcement vehicle equipment.
A tradition of craftsmanship that is generations deep runs strong at Setina. Carrying on their father’s legacy, Terry Setina, President, and Judy Setina, Vice President, have both been an integral part of the company for over forty years. As President, Terry Setina has executive production responsibilities and oversees the entire manufacturing process to ensure only the highest quality products are produced. As Vice President, Judy Setina is responsible for the administrative and marketing side of the company. They have two modern, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities where nearly all the manufacturing processes are done, from receiving the raw materials to the finished product.
Setina uses the latest in computer-assisted design technology in their product development and manufacturing process. The company’s network infrastructure rivals those of larger companies. Their high-speed, gigabit, and fiber-optic network infrastructure allows employees to work effectively and efficiently. They strive to establish long-lasting relationships with their customers by exceeding their expectations and gaining trust through adherence to the highest standards. Setina’s designs and original patents continue to “set the standards as we know them today,” Judy Setina said.
According to Setina, the company is constantly doing laboratory testing to make sure their products can withstand the uncompromising demands of police work. For example, UV testing is performed on the push bumpers powder coat finish, as well as salt spray and gravelometer tests for scratch-resistance. Bolts and fasteners are tested for strength and quality, and all hardware is coated with ASTM-B-117 for protection against both white and red rust. Setina uses aircraft-grade aluminum and all OEM-grade powder to meet or exceed the auto manufacturers’ requirements and front-end weight limitations. Their patented Partition Mounting features a suspended mounting bracket system, eliminating the risk of foot entanglement. All of these are examples of the “Setina Difference.”
Setina’s SmartBelt is the only electronic seat belt system in the industry. The company also has a patent on door guards that go over the OEM door panel. This means officers don’t have to disconnect the door locks or handles and allows for an increased resale value of the vehicle when removed. Also, Setina was the first company to use LED lights on push bumpers, an example of how they keep improving and perfecting as an industry leader. Always defaulting to the highest quality, they use polycarbonatecoated, scratch-resistant finish on their partitions and barriers.
The Big Three—Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Chrysler Stellantis North America also recognize the quality of Setina products designed for use on their police vehicles. Many of the major auto manufacturers are now producing electric versions of their most popular vehicles for police use, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Lightning truck; Tesla; and Chevrolet Volt. Judy Setina said Setina is also very proud to be an environmentally friendly “green” company, which means they do not produce any hazardous waste at their facilities, or during their manufacturing processes.
Terry and Judy Setina pride themselves on following their father’s belief system by offering the highest standard of quality in everything they do. Their attention to details evident from beginning to end, with no detail overlooked. “The customer always comes first and our customer service is second-to-none,” Judy Setina stated. In addition, all of Setina’s products are made in the USA.
Setina’s extensive line of products for law enforcement includes several patented exterior and interior products that make them an industry leader in police vehicle upfitting. They are often imitated, but never outperformed in terms of design and functionality. Below are just a few of the superior products they offer.
Models range from Original, Heavy Duty to Latest Technology LEDs. None of Setina’s push bumper designs interfere with the SRS Airbag System.
All of Setina’s partition systems are side-curtain airbag compatible. Designed for a quick and easy installation, these partitions provide maximum legroom for all occupants. Suspended Mounting System anchors securely to the vehicle’s B-Pillar, eliminating the need for floor mounting brackets. The LEXAN™ coated scratch-resistant polycarbonate has a seven-year limited warranty against yellowing, abrasion, breakage, and coating failure. It is completely transparent, allowing for maximum visibility.
High-strength, impact-resistant Fender Protectors and Headlight Guards are constructed of heavyduty, lightweight aircraftgrade aluminum and steel. All hardware meets or exceeds Automotive PPAP Corrosion Standard PS10180.
Setina’s new Police Bike Rack features a unique folding design, allowing for quick mounting, removal, and storage, and is adjustable for multiple bikes. The low-profile mount with stainless-steel fasteners and rubber-coated bike cradles eliminates noise and rattle during transport.
Lightweight aluminum or steel undercarriage skid plates protect the under body, power train, and chassis components from damage caused by police driving situations. No drilling required for installation and easy access eliminates the need to remove for routine maintenance.
An advanced modular design accommodates most firearms, scopes, and accessories. Setina’s “T-Rail” technology provides adjustability for multiple firearms and lock heads.
Setina offers TPO Plastic or Aluminum and Steel door panels. Flat panel design allows for compatibility with each vehicle’s window framework.
hermoplastic PolyOlefin (TPO) is shatter, flame, and chemical resistant and exceeds NHSTA regulations.
Setina’s seating options include either the “Precision Fit” Cover Style Seating Systems, which provide a precision fit directly over the vehicle’s existing seat, or Replacement Style Seat to maximize suspect capacity. Also available with transport seating is Setina’s advanced center pull system or the new SmartBelt, which allows the officer to situate the passenger and buckle, with retractors that automatically sense when to lock so the detainee is secured. A safety alert signaling system notifies the officer if the retractor becomes unbuckled and is out of restraint mode.
Designed with a high-strength steel framework and available with multiple window options, all window barriers are easy to install and feature a black powder coat finish.
The Ultimate K-9 II from Setina features the largest-in-class K-9 containment area with Setina’s rear cargo storage management system. Constructed of heavy-duty, lightweight aluminum alloy with a rugged powder coat finish, it allows for easy spare tire access.
Setina’s cargo storage solutions maximize vehicle storage for firearms, cargo, and communications equipment. A variety of locking systems are available, including RFID (keyless entry), Key Pad, Combi Lock (combination only), and Handle Key Lock. The Easy-Lift Cargo Deck provides a secure solution to the lower deck radios, electronics, and cargo storage.
Known for a legacy of innovation, Setina is growing every year, Judy Setina said. They have two manufacturing facilities in Washington now, with state-of-the-art technology in both production locations. Many of their employees have been working there for more than 20 years, partly due to the competitive wages and benefits the company offers its employees, as well as the family-first atmosphere. In addition to an exceptional work force, Setina is also proud in continuing their family legacy with their third generation, with Brett Ware and Julian Setina, who both have the same dedication and commitment for their company and to the law enforcement industry.
By Robert Martinez Deputy Commissioner (Retired) NYPD
There are many things to consider before going down the road of electrifying a patrol fleet. Every department fleet is unique in fleet size, landscape, force size, duty cycle, and political philosophy, all of which play a role with fleet transitioning. Over the past year, local, state, and federal government agencies have been issuing mandates and executive orders to move to electric vehicles. By 2035, all new vehicles sold in California and New York will have to be EVs. Additional states will likely follow suit in the near future. Therefore, whether in agreement or not, the time has come to learn and understand what it will take to move toward electrifying our police fleets and required charging infrastructure.
Things to consider before going electric include but are not limited to: duty cycle, charge time, take-home vehicles, charge time is down time, available electric power, plus funding and grants. The two biggest caveats are availability of vehicles meeting the mission that are safe, and electric power required for charging. EVs need to operate the same way as non-electric vehicles. The mission of the agency should be paramount to transition and govern what vehicles to purchase.
Some pros of greening your fleet are reducing dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil, supporting alternative fuels, and utilization of the U.S. farming industry. Fleet operation costs are lower per mile in electric vehicles versus internal combustion vehicles (ICE). Other cost reductions will be in preventative maintenance, such as the elimination of oil changes and tune-ups. The first service on EVs is usually over 100,000 miles. Some cons are increased vehicle acquisition price, limited range, charge time is out of service time, and currently no law enforcement vehicles are available.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was passed, which funds the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program. This makes available $5 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to distribute among states to deploy EV charging infrastructure. An additional $2.5 billion in funding is for a discretionary grant program for charging deployment throughout the United States. One of the requirements for states to receive this funding is to construct charging stations having a minimum of four 150Kw chargers per site. Some positive news is the most recently enacted bills will have a point of sale credit, not just a tax rebate. This is very
Chevrolet’s debut of the new Blazer EV sports utility vehicle in July included a look into the future – the “police-prepped” Blazer EV PPV, which is set for a 2024 release.
important to government agencies and non-for-profit organizations that do not have tax liabilities.
In order for the transition to electric vehicles to have an effect on climate change, the United States needs to produce green electricity. Governor Hochul wants New York state to be 100 percent green electric generation by 2050. Currently, NYS Electric power is 24 percent hydroelectric, 25 percent nuclear, 9 percent wind and solar, with the remaining production from natural gas and oil. A useful resource to navigate available funding is the website afdc.energy.gov. Sites for additional information and calculations include
(AFLEET) Argonne National Lab: jobs EVSE 1.0 Tool and Department of Energy: Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC)’s vehicle search tool, station locator, and more. Likely one of the best resources for information is your local Clean Cities Coalition and Network.
Understanding charging infrastructure requirements will be critical for any department to transition into an electric patrol fleet to meet the needs of the community it serves. Vehicles today have three different levels of charging available for light-duty electric vehicles. Level 1 is a standard 110V to 120V outlet; Level 2 is 220–240 volt standard dryer or electric stove outlet or charging station. Level 1 charging can take days to fully charge. Level 2 may take six to eight hours to fully charge an electric vehicle depending on battery size. With both level 1 and 2, charging the vehicle utilizes the onboard charger that converts alternating current AC to direct current DC. The rate of charge is governed by the output of the onboard charger. Level 3 DC fast charging requires an electric supply of 440–480 volts with 100 to 300 Amps. Not all DC fast chargers charge at the same rate. For example, a 50Kw charger could take up to 2.5 hours to fully charge a Ford Mach-E with a 98-Kilowatt hour battery (KWh). In comparison, a 100Kw charger can charge
to 80 percent in less than one hour. One of the first things many departments will realize is they do not have the necessary voltage and amperage required for fast charging. This is where some of the biggest costs and investment will incur. A large percentage of locations will need transformers and additional electric service installed. Basic calculations for charging stations is Voltage times Amperage for Wattage (Watts = V x A). So why is this important to understand? Most departments will run into operational concerns with available electric supply issues and delays in construction and permitting. Operational concern is that the charge times will greatly affect how quickly EVs can be charged and available for patrol. Determining what type of charging levels your patrol fleet will need will depend upon adequate downtime or dwell time for each vehicle in comparison to charging.
Some good news is that other than Tesla, all American-made and imported electric
vehicles into this country will have a standard Combine Charging System (CCS) connector. The top portion is for type 2 connectors for AC charging. During DC fast charging, both top and bottom sections are utilized to carry high power. Level 3 D/C fast charging comes in many different names and programs. Tesla has its own proprietary chargers with a special plug for Tesla owners, but Tesla owners can use an adapter to use other band or types of chargers. Some of the other programs are Ford Pro, Charge Point, Electrify America, and GM Pilot Flying J.
EV batteries also come in many different sizes and internal materials that seem to be rapidly changing. Battery size will play a role in the operational range of the vehicle and the amount of time to recharge a drained battery. The battery charger in the car converts the AC electricity into DC to charge the battery. If a vehicle has a 10kw onboard charger and a 100kwh battery pack, it takes about 10 hours to fully charge. (Time = Battery capacity’s KWh number / Changer power rating) When the vehicle battery’s State-of-Charge (SoC) is greater than 80 percent, the DC fast charger rate slows considerably; this optimizes battery life and limits the risk of overcharging. This is why manufacturers often claim that fast charging will get you 80 percent in 30 minutes, if charging at 200kw per hour. The last 20 percent could double the time you are hooked up to the fast charger.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is fitted with an 11Kw on-board charger for type 1 and 2 charging. Due to voltage differences, the charge time will increase if plugged into
a 110/120-volt outlet or decrease when plugged into a 220/240-volt outlet or level 2 charger. To step up or step down voltage, a transformer will be necessary; some locations that do not have 440/480 volts will need a transformer installed. To increase a location’s available current (AMPs), additional service will be required in many cases. The easiest way to understand amperage flow is to think of amps as water. As wire size increases, more amps can be delivered. This is where some of the biggest time delays will come from with permitting and construction.
While initially testing at NYPD, the Mach-E energy usage was between 3 to 5 miles per KWh. EVs will have energy usage data readily available: climate percentage for heat and air conditioning, vehicle percentage for propulsion, percentage for accessories, and percentage for external temperature, which is energy used for battery temperature control. Actual recharge for the Mustang Mach-E on a 50Kw fast charger was 2.5 hours from 15 percent to fully charging a 98KWh battery. EV range changes constantly depending on speed, braking (regen), payload, outside temperature, geographic hill or grade changes, and any other battery energy use during operation. Law enforcement vehicles having roof lights and other response equipment as well as computers and radios will reduce range. A vehicle with a 98KWh battery that gets 3 miles per KWh should get just under 300 miles per full charge. This will be dependent on regenerative braking and other components and equipment utilized.
Efficiency is the primary driver of cleaning up the transportation sector. Electric motors make vehicles substantially more efficient than ICE vehicles. Electric motors convert over 85 percent of electrical energy into mechanical energy, or motion, compared to less than 40 percent for gas combustion engines. These efficiencies are even lower after considering losses as heat in the drivetrain, which is the collection of components that translate the power created in an electric motor or combustion engine to the wheels. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), in an EV, about 59–62 percent of electrical energy from the grid goes to turning the wheels, whereas gas combustion vehicles only convert about 17–21 percent of energy from burning fuel into moving the car. This means that an electric vehicle is roughly three times as efficient as an ICE vehicle. Needing less energy to power your vehicle also helps bring down the cost.
Electric vehicle motors have fewer moving parts than traditional internal combustion engines, which means fewer parts that can eventually break (at least in theory). Patrol cars need to be reliable, and with added reliability comes decreased maintenance costs.
Jotto Desk™ ZRT Gun Racks are designed for any configuration you can imagine. Partition Mounted, Single Cell Mounted, Rear Seat Mounted or Free Standing, and Rear Hatch Mounted – Single Weapon or Dual. Jotto Desk was awarded two patents for these innovative solutions (US Patent No. 8,910,560, US Patent No. 9,481,312, and US Patent No. 10,563,943). SmartLok Technology was developed to thwart not only the theft potential from hotwiring that exists,but also the threat from a magnet or even a hammer strike.
JOTTOPUBLICSAFETY.COM
EVs are fun to drive because of lots of horsepower and torque. Instant torque is generated by an electric current and magnetic fields in the electric motor, whereas a gas engine takes much longer to combust gas and turn the crankshaft. This instant torque in an EV is what throws you back against the seat when you accelerate from stoplight to stoplight.
Other than charging infrastructure, the biggest delay in transition to fully electric vehicles is availability of EVs and EVs that meet the law enforcement mission. Currently, there are no pursuit-rated or special-service package EVs for law enforcement or police service. Ford brought the Mach-E GT to Michigan State Police Vehicle Testing, and performance was impressive. What was not impressive was the 30 percent reduction in battery charge after 18 miles of high-speed track testing.
Currently, the NYPD only has two EV models in service, the Chevrolet Bolt and the Ford Mach-E Mustang. A fleet of 32 Bolts is assigned to Traffic Control, School Safety, and other non-patrol units. They have been in service for three years now, with very good reviews from both operators and mechanics. An order of 148 Ford Mach-Es was delivered, 40 unmarked and 108 fully marked units. There has not been enough data collected to do any type of fair comparison of cost per mile or maintenance cost as of this time.
Law enforcement vehicles projected within the next two years are the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro SSV and an all-new fully electric 2024 Chevrolet Blazer Police model. There is a rumor that Volvo will be releasing a police model for the United States. Tesla keeps popping up at various departments throughout the United States, but Tesla has not confirmed that they will have a pursuit model anytime soon. Ford is producing E-Transit vans that might be useful for prisoner transport or as a small command post.
With the gauntlet of variables for transitioning to electric vehicles, departments will have to study vehicle utilization. In most cases, it will not be one size fits all for police fleets. A vehicle that would meet the mission for community patrol might not meet the mission for highway patrol. EVs would probably have a better fit on the administrative side and detective squads. Electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure are extremely dynamic and fluid, and within the next couple of years, the crystal ball may become clearer. My suggestion to all fleet managers is to start a pilot program, get your feet wet with EVs, and collect your own data.
• Lower Maintenance Cost
• More Economical
• Reduced Emissions
• Reduced Dependence on Fossil Fuels
• Reduced Dependency on Foreign Oil
• Reduced Noise
• Regenerative Breaking
• Utility Bill Discounts for Charging at Home
• Super Fast
• Fun to Drive
• One-Pedal Drive
• Vehicle Availability
• Electric Grid Capabilities
• Charge Time
• Range Anxiety
• Pre-Conditioning
• Government Mandates
• All Eggs in One Basket
• Cyber Security
• Electric Grid
• Police Equipment
• No Police Vehicles Availability Currently
Whelen is redefining control systems with CenCom Core. With the greatest configurability, speed, and expansion yet, CenCom Core is a system created to enhance officer safety with advanced automation and remote connectivity.
Dynamic Variable Intensity™ flash patterns are designed to create a calm warning environment and advanced level of safety at nighttime emergency scenes. These patterns clearly indicate when an emergency vehicle is parked, improving a driver’s ability to navigate around a scene safely.
VISIT WHELEN.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.whelen.com
Whelen design and manufactures reliable and powerful warning lights, white illumination lighting, sirens, controllers, and high-powered warning systems for Automotive and Mass Notification industries worldwide. Whelen products have been proudly designed and manufactured in America since 1952. With quality as the foundation, Whelen celebrates innovative engineering with every product made.
Whelen: Manufactured in America for over 70 years—we never left, and we’re here to stay.
@WhelenENG
51 Winthrop Road
Chester, CT USA 06412
By Brad Brewer
The Norcross Police Department (NPD) is a full-service municipal law enforcement agency that was formed in 1870. The Norcross Police Department works closely with the community to identify concerns and implement solutions relating to issues within the community. One of NPD’s biggest challenges is they don’t have a large staff of outreach officers; just one officer and that officer needs to connect with the older generation as much as the younger generation, the Latino community as much as the Korean community, and so on. The Ford Mustang Mach-E® project is just one of many ways NPD tries to connect with those they serve. It’s something that a lot of folks in Norcross think is a positive thing.
NPD is made up of 49 sworn positions, 18 of which are civilian. They cover a small 6.2-square-mile area in what (arguably) is the largest county in Georgia of over a million people. They have over 45,000 vehicles drive through the city every day and respond to over 35,000 calls for service a year. NPD is split in half—Support
Services (SS) and Uniform Patrol (UP). UP includes Patrol Shifts, Traffic Unit, and Court Security. SS oversees the rest: Dispatchers, Criminal Investigations Division (CID), Property and Evidence, Community Outreach, Crime Analysis, Professional Standards Unit (PSU)/Training/Internal Affairs (IA)/Hiring.
Under the direction of Chief Bill Grogan, the NPD is always looking for new ways to build stronger connections with the community. This is something that is often very difficult to do given today’s existing political climate. That said, Chief Grogan and his police fleet upfit provider Tracy Gooch (“Gooch”) had an idea to prototype
a new style of police vehicle and use it as a community outreach vehicle. The vehicle would be assigned to a single officer working an eight-hour shift, so charging downtime would not be an issue and the vehicle would be a shared response vehicle used for community events and some limited operational policing.
To make this new vehicle something that could positively enhance community engagement with police, it would have to be something very different than the regular patrol vehicle. In addition, Chief Grogan wanted to do something a little more environmentally friendly while staying true to the mission of the department. So,
the Ford Mustang Mach-E was chosen, and not just the Mach-E base model but the Premium trim level. (https://www. ford.com/police-vehicles/) As the Mach-E continues to be chosen by many law enforcement agencies, Ford has gone on record stating that the Mach-E GT is the minimum spec for any police-style upfitting equipment.
Choosing the Mach-E Premium trim level brought a whole host of new upfit challenges for Gooch and his team. For example, how exactly do you attach a regular police lightbar to a vehicle with a very curved roof mostly made of glass? Well, with help from some dedicated equipment vendors like Whelen, Gooch was able to modify the Whelen Legacy lightbar feet to facilitate mounting on the unique Mach-E roof. The lightbar wiring was underneath the feet and fed through the Mach-E body trim all the way to the rear where it entered through factory grommets. The Mach-E low-profile strap kit was then used to secure the lightbar to the roof. (https://www.whelen.com/ product/legacy/)
Once the lightbar was installed, it was apparent that light flashback was engulfing the interior of the vehicle, which was obviously unsafe, so a fix was necessary. This was resolved by installing a factory OEM Ford snap-in sunshade and headliner. This completely blocked the lightbar flashback while maintaining a clean factory interior look.
Chief Grogan’s direction to Gooch was
simple: Make the build as close to a regular patrol vehicle as you can but also make it standout and take advantage of some of the vehicle’s uniqueness. Gooch complied with the chief’s direction by installing the same Setina push bar, dual Whelen® 100-watt siren speakers, same Whelen “Legacy” lightbar, and SoundOff interior lighting.
To make the Mach-E project unique, Gooch went to town by adding special under-hood “Frunklighting.” Controlled by four switches, the operator can turn on special green LED lighting for various Frunk configurations. Those same “OPS7” multi-colored lights were also installed under the vehicle for a real eye-catching look to the exterior. Gooch added some multi-colored Superior Signal blue/green lights to the frunk icebox as an accessory upgrade for community events. The
OPS7 undercarriage lighting is not just for show; it also can be added to the activation of emergency lights during Code 3 operation. One of the other special-use cases is the ability for the officer to have the undercarriage lighting on while simply patrolling a neighborhood. The public can then easily see the police vehicle at night and be assured the police presence is close by.
To enhance the emergency lighting even more, Gooch installed an interior lightbar up inside the windshield with visor mounting hardware. The rear quarter glass has 3-inch SoundOff Signal® MPower® LED lights. (https://soundoffsignal.com/) The rear bumper has dual blue 8EVP lights, along with EVP lights around the license plate bracket. The rear window has a 24-inch Code3 Outliner™ lightbar. (https://www.code3esg.com/
The Advanced Gun Lock Timer manufactured by Egis Mobile Electric is a compact, bulletproof solid-state relay made with temperatureresistant materials and an integrated thermal overload. These features enable it to be mounted anywhere on the vehicle and hidden from intruders, protecting weapons from theft due to break-ins.
Lock-out protection completely shuts off electric power to the gun release solenoid, preventing hot-wiring
Lockout set time delay ranges from 15 minutes up to two hours
For more information visit www.waytekwire.com/Egis-GL
us/en) Inside the fender wells, SoundOff 4-inch MPower lights are mounted. On the outside of the fender wells (both front and rear) are SoundOff 4-inch MPower LED lights. Along with the lighting on the push bar, the vehicle front bumper has two Whelen surface-mount ION™ T-Series™ lights, plus two Superior Signal flat 6 lights.
Havis (https://www.havis.com/product-category/search-by-vehicle-typemake/ford/ford-mustang-mach-e/)
makes a custom console for the Mach-E, which is unique given the shifter dial center location in the Mach-E. The console has an equipment storage bin and room for a SoundOff 400 siren/light controller. No mobile radio is installed, as the officer uses their personal portable radio for communication.
Havis also constructed a laptop pedestal mount as to provide as close to regular patrol vehicle ergonomics as possible.
Also inside is a custom Havis passenger headrest-mounted Brother printer used for traffic citation enforcement. Between the seats, Gooch has installed a Santa Cruz single long-gun rack that will hold an AR15 or a shotgun. (https://santacruzgunlocks.com/)
The vehicle also has a WatchGuard® Panoramic camera system, which includes a prisoner camera and a bodycam charger for the officer. (https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/video-security-access-control/in-car-video-systems/4rein-car-video-system.html)
The telecommunications configuration is similar again to the NPD’s regular setup with Panasonic TOUGHBOOK®, Cradlepoint 4G modem, ChargeGuard power controller, and Panorama “BatWing” cellular/GPS/WiFi antenna. (https://panorama-antennas.com/) For electronic equipment storage, there is a rear-mounted Setina lockbox for all the controllers for various technology gear.
The back seat of the Mach-E is where things got interesting, according to Gooch. Tearing out the back seat was no easy chore as there isn’t really a handbook for such a task. After getting everything removed, Gooch was able to install a complete Setina kit with Setina back seat, Setina single prisoner compartment, and Setina interior door panels and window protectors. (https://setina.com/ spec-your-vehicle/#)
On the exterior, Chief Grogan wanted this vehicle to clearly be identifiable as a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) while maintaining consistency of their standard police fleet graphics, so the same graphics were used but the colors were changed to incorporate green.
As the Mach-E becomes more mainstream in law enforcement, more equipment will become available that’s custom-designed for this vehicle. Gooch says at the time they started upfitting their Mach-E, not a lot of information on aftermarket equipment was out there. Gooch, who is a regular attendee to Police Fleet Expo every year, said, “If it wasn’t for attending the Police Fleet Expo in Austin, Texas last year, I would never have seen all the available Mach-E equipment that we ended up using.”
The Ford Mach-E GT version has been chosen by many departments as part of a green initiative over the past few years. Most notably, NYPD just purchased 160 Mach-E vehicles and has deployed them in all areas of the NYPD. For any agency still considering the Mach-E as a possible addition to their fleet, they should look at the last Michigan State Police (MSP) Vehicle Testing.
The Mach-E was Ford’s only electric submission at this year’s MSP test, featuring an all-wheel drive configuration and the Mach-E GT’s powertrain, which means that it utilizes dual-permanent magnetic motors, including an upgraded secondary electric motor that powers the front wheels for a combined output of 480 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Ford projects that the Mach-E GT will do 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and achieve an EPA-estimated 270 miles of range. Law enforcement use will likely change these figures and so will weather, as well as equipment demands. It will be interesting to see the results after NYPD has their fleet of 160 deployed for a year in the field.
MSP drivers managed to do 0 to 60 in 3.93 seconds flat and hit 100 mph in 12.23 seconds in the Mach-E. Contrary to popular belief, the Mach-E test vehicle only had police graphics; it did not have extra police lighting or equipment during the test. The Mach-E hit 122 mph in two miles, and after 18 miles of high-speed track testing, the Mach-E used 30% charge on each run; it wasn’t down to 30% charge left in the battery (i.e., it went from 80% down to 50% over the eight laps).
Likely, the heat on the electric motors is the reason for the diminishing speed after the five fastest laps. Charging was done after every eight laps. MSP called that performance “a good start” for EVs but noted that charging infrastructure and speeds will need to improve before electric vehicles can completely replace ICE-powered vehicles in this capacity.
Ford has already increased the Mach-E’s usable battery capacity for the 2023 model year, which should translate to more range, and it plans on continuously improving the EV in that regard moving forward. It should also be noted that while the Mach-E is not an officially sanctioned and pursuit-rated purpose-built police vehicle, Ford has released an upfitters document to assist fleet managers who will deploy one regardless. Ford recommends the purchase of the GT version and not the base model to ensure there is sufficient power available for aftermarket equipment demands.
Any agency that’s considering the addition of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) to their fleet should be aware of the unique upfitting requirements and available upfit equipment regardless of make or model chosen.
Many agencies have had great success adding BEVs to their command staff, administrative staff, and detective staff vehicle pools, but the jury is still out on BEVs in frontline policing. Charging infrastructure costs, charging downtimes, range anxiety, and battery safety are all still hot topics of debate. An agency that “hot seats” their fleet may have to purchase extra vehicles to accommodate charging times so logistically, BEVs can create complexity that ICE vehicles don’t have.
While governments at all levels continue downward pressure on fleet and police managers across North America, it is important to understand the facts about electrification. One point that is often overlooked with the BEV transition is the true comparison calculation of CO2 between an ICE vehicle and a BEV. On average, it takes 15–18 years depending on vehicle model for the BEV vehicle to produce less CO2 than the ICE vehicle due to the manufacturing process that creates the battery. So if you only keep your BEV police vehicle for 3–4 years, that vehicle is actually contributing more CO2 into the atmosphere than any ICE vehicle in your fleet. (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=S1E8SQde5rk)
At the end of the day, the Norcross Police Department has a unique police vehicle that breaks down stereotypical barriers and actively stimulates positive interaction between the police and the community. Mission accomplished!
Tracy Gooch of Gooch’s Emergency Vehicle Solutions can be reached at Goochsevs@yahoo.com
From technological advancements to innovating industry business models, Feniex has continued to challenge the status quo to ensure that emergency equipment is never the reason why a first responder unit is delayed. In recent years, while the world focused on concerns with supply chain, Feniex doubled their innovation efforts to bring a solution to the biggest problem our industry faces.
rom technological advancements to innovating industry business models, Feniex has continued to challenge the status quo to ensure that emergency equipment is never the reason why a first responder unit is delayed. In recent years, while the world focused on concerns with supply chain, Feniex doubled their innovation efforts to bring a solution to the biggest problem our industry faces.
Launched during the Feniex Annual Summit on January 18, 2023, Feniex released its most innovative product line to date, Quantum®, the world’s first field upgradable and customizable emergency warning product series.
“We are changing and simplifying the supply chain while providing additional functionality features and flexibility to our customers,” stated Yemilyn Mosley, Chief Operating Officer. “Dealers can now stock with flexibility and consolidation, allowing them to grow their business more efficiently and profitably.”
Quantum’s patented technology allows the buyer to purchase one product, at single-color cost, and unlock multi-color modes as needed. This product release optimizes Feniex’s single-color line with more functionality, bringing back dualcolor, launching tri-color for the first time, and enhancing the quad line.
In addition to the technological innovation of Quantum, Feniex is introducing new business models into the industry that will yield greater capital efficiencies for dealers and agencies. In response and adaptation to current market conditions, Feniex has designed the commercial model of the Quantum lighting series to bolster the financial models of their dealers to allow them to shorten their vehicle completion time, producing more
builds per year. Dealers can now plan their stock ahead of time and be more competitive with lead times, customizing and programming the Quantum product in a fraction of the time of other brands. With the adoption of the Quantum line, dealers can consolidate brands as Quantum meets every functionality and budget.
Agencies will benefit from the flexibility to upgrade vehicle functions as budgets allow, and as vehicles trickle in from shortages, fleet managers will have the ability to program and repurpose as inventory becomes available. They will also have full control over their product with simplified programming steps.
Quantum is available in four configuration
Get your products when and where you need them. Purchase Quantum Series products at low-cost single color, and upgrade to dual, tri and quad colors when needed.
types: single, dual, tri, and quad across a family of six lightbars, five light sticks, and twenty-plus vehicle-specific inner bars. It is all-in-one, allowing the customer to skip the long production wait times. It is affordable, with everything you need starting at the single-color price. Quantum is field programmable with 60 days to lock in your color option. Warranty begins at the time of configuration, and the customer can upgrade the product for an additional cost at any time using the Quantum software.
The Quantum module has a linear optic perfectly designed to capture 100 percent of the light from the 24 LEDs packed into each module. Each module has amber, blue, white, and red colors. Integrated features and functions include: takedown, alley, flood mode; front and rear flashing modes; DOT stop-turn-tail modes’ arrow directional modes; dim and cut-off modes; cruise and park modes; and California red mode.
Customers have sixty days to change colors in single, dual, and tri. To make any changes in the future, upgrading to the next unlock level would be the recommendation. This will give the user sixty extra days and an additional color to each light module. If the product is unlocked to quad, then they will have unlimited access to changing color and input functions as they please.
Quantum offers options for all budgets and uses as the customer only pays for what they need. Single-color is the same pricing as the Feniex FusionⓇ-S product line. Quad pricing matches the four-color capabilities of the Quantum, and dual and tri are set at industry standard pricing
with more flexibility and control than ever seen in the market before.
The Unlock Quantum software is free for product configuration. End users can directly download the software and have the ability to upgrade the product to dual, tri, or quad using the software. This revolutionary innovation of Quantum technology is a more evolved iteration of the Feniex QuadⓇ product line that was first released in 2020. While Quad has twenty-eight fixed programming functions via the converter and has to be manually programmed per input wire, Quantum is a complete online programming experience in a fraction of the time by plugging it to a computer and using the Quantum software and USB adapter.
Additionally, Quantum has upgrade capabilities, allowing dealers to costeffectively keep more stock with accessible single-color pricing and upgrade at the time of sale by the customer needs. Quantum also has eight new additional flash patterns that include: raging beacon, figure 8 chase, night ride crossover, hale storm, pulse, I/O flux, spectrum, and progressive pursuit.
Quantum’s programming software saves time while providing more functions and flexibility. Customers can maximize the functions intuitively, and for those with less programming experience, they can avoid tapping wires.
Feniex offers a five-year warranty for Quantum, which starts the day the user first configures the product with the USB adapter and not the day of sale.
For more information about the Quantum product line series, the Unlock Quantum software, and how to buy and become a dealer, please visit https://www.feniex. com/ or contact sales@feniex.com. For personal training classes on installation, visit https://www.feniextraining.com/.
“Quantum is a real transformation on how the vehicle equipment industry works,” stated Yemilyn Mosely. “The advancement and flexibility of emergency lighting has been forever shaped by this release.”
About the Author: Ariana Carruth serves as the Vice President of Sales for Feniex Industries. Founded by Hamza Deyaf, Feniex Industries provides American-made vehicle warning devices for first responders, worldwide, and continues to be one of the fastest-growing businesses in the vehicle warning market, with over 100 employees and 1,000 dealers and distributors…in more than 30 countries. To lean more, visit www.feniex.com.
By Police Fleet Professional Staff
Police vehicles are integral to law enforcement agencies operating efficiently and effectively. Officers spend many hours in their patrol cars, and they have become a mobile office in many respects. Managing these fleets is a major responsibility, regardless of an agency’s size. Although terrain and weather conditions might impact the wear and tear on police vehicles, there are several other issues that can affect any department’s fleet, whether it is located on the East Coast, West Coast, or in the Midwest. After a successful expo in 2022 in Austin, TX, Police Fleet Professional talked to more fleet managers across the country about how their jobs have changed over the past several years and the topics they are most concerned about.
Mark Crawford Assistant Manager Fleet Operations Unit Kansas City, MO Police Department
Question: What is your current title? How long have you been responsible for police vehicles and/or vehicle purchases?
A: 27 years with Fleet Operations; 4 years as Fleet Manager
Q: What are a few of your key, primary responsibilities?
A: Vehicle purchases, emergency equipment purchases, fleet readiness
Q: If you had to pick one or two fleet-related issues that ‘keep you up on a Sunday night,’ what would they be?
A: We are a 24/7 shop, so I am always concerned about the safety of the personnel working overnights and weekends. Second thing would be ordering vehicles.
Q: Have you ever been to Police Fleet Expo or FPCX? If so, what was your experience like?
A: I have been to a few of them and I believe it is the single most beneficial thing you can attend to help you grow as a Police Fleet Manager. Everyone speaks your language; all conversations are exclusively about police vehicles and running a police fleet. I refer to it as our Comic-Con.
Q: How do you keep up (or keep current) on new vehicles, new vehicle equipment, new products in the market? Include all that apply.
A: Manufacturer Reps, Colleagues (other Fleet Managers) and PFE. I do a lot of research on my own as well.
Q: Who makes the final purchasing decisions within your agency? Include all that apply.
A: We are given a budget and I decide which vehicles and quantities to purchase from that point, but the bulk of the vehicle purchase is approved by the Board of Police Commissioner per guidelines set in place.
Q: Who makes the following purchasing decisions in your agency regarding:
A: Vehicles: Me, Radios: Radio and IT departments, Body Cameras: Radio and IT departments, Rugged Laptops or other interior items for the vehicle: IT department, Lightbars and other exterior equipment for the vehicle: Me. My responsibility are vehicles; primary and secondary are emergency lighting and fleet purchases in general.
Q: What effect has the global semiconductor shortage had on your fleet? Is this better, the same, or worse than a year ago?
A: The whole slowdown is having a detrimental effect on keeping Fleet Readiness. Our goal is always 98 percent Fleet Readiness, and we have fallen to 93 percent for periods of time.
Q: Is it still difficult to get vehicles or vehicle parts right now, due to the supply chains being disrupted from the pandemic? Is it better, the same, or worse than a year ago?
A: Vehicles are extremely hard, the ordering windows do not align with anyone’s fiscal calendar, and if you do get an order in, nothing is guaranteed that you will actually receive your vehicles. It’s not really an order as much as it is a ‘wish list.’ New emergency equipment is especially difficult right now.
Q: Hiring qualified personnel continues to be somewhat of a challenge for many departments and agencies across the country. Do you currently have many vacancies or openings in your department… especially for fleet-related jobs?
A: We have been fortunate in finding good people as of late. We do have several openings due to retirements.
Q: With the exception of higher gas prices, are the general costs of maintaining a police fleet (or fleet of vehicles) coming in much higher than other years, or about the same?
A: Very much so.
Q: How do you handle all the new technology and upgrades in the police vehicles today? Is it making your job easier, or more complicated and difficult?
A: It has made our jobs more difficult by having to correspond with other units for their responsibilities on the vehicles. I feel it’s too much and distracting to officers.
Jennifer Anderson Fleet Procurement Manager Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Q: What is your current title? How long have you been responsible for police vehicles and/or vehicle purchases?
A: Fleet Procurement Manager. I have been in State Government service for almost 17 years and I’ve been taking care of Government Fleet Vehicles for 10 years. I took the Fleet Manager position with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in 2021.
Q: What are a few of your key, primary responsibilities?
A: I am honored to be able to support our mission by making sure that our personnel have safe, operable vehicles and proper emergency equipment needed to serve their missions. I maintain the lifecycles of our units and use discernment regarding what and where our resources and tools are best placed and purposed.
Q: If you had to pick one or two fleet-related issues that ‘keep you up on a Sunday night,’ what would they be?
A: Safety is always my number one priority. I’m always concerned about how well our vehicles are performing in the field. The last thing our personnel need to be concerned about is if their tools are going to fail them. Secondly, as many Fleet Managers of late have been doing, I find myself brainstorming on how to better meet our needs in these complicated economic times.
Q: Have you ever been to Police Fleet Expo or FPCX? If so, what was your experience like?
A: I was able to represent the TBI at the recent 2022 FPCX in Austin, Texas, for the first time in our agency’s history. It was a great showcase of the various products and technologies available as well as a great opportunity to meet and learn from peers in various agencies.
Q: How do you keep up (or keep current) on new vehicles, new vehicle equipment, new products in the market? Include all that apply. (Trade Shows, Magazines, Websites, Manufacturer Reps, etc.)
A: I have found that visiting various local and state law enforcement agencies and meeting with fleet managers to see where the industry standards are currently has given me a great amount of context from which to decide what is best for our unique fleet. I have also been meeting with various upfitters across our state, speaking with both owners and technicians as well as manufacturer reps to see what technology is coming up and what the applications and obstacles are. Our agents as the end users are also a great resource.
Q: Who makes the final vehicle purchasing decisions within your agency? Include all that apply. (Police Chief, Fleet Manager, etc.)
A: We have an excellent team that collaborates on meeting our fleet needs. As Fleet Manager, I work closely with our State Department of General Services personnel to procure vehicles. I also coordinate with our Assistant Directors and regional personnel, Special Agents In Charge and their assistants, to assess and decide what vehicles to select and how our resources are best deployed.
Q: Who makes the following purchasing decisions in your agency regarding:
A: Vehicles: Our Fleet Manager, Radios: Our internal Technology & Innovation Department takes the lead on radios, Body Cameras: Our internal Technology & Innovation Division is over all recording and A/V equipment, Rugged Laptops or other interior items for the vehicle: Fleet Manager in coordination with the vehicle operators and division heads, Lightbars and other exterior equipment for the vehicle: Fleet Manager in coordination with the vehicle operators and division heads.
Q: What effect has the global semiconductor shortage had on your fleet? Is this better, the same, or worse than a year ago?
A: The semiconductor shortage continues to be of concern and impact has remained consistent, but I am optimistic that this will soon improve.
Q: Is it still difficult to get vehicles or vehicle parts right now, due to the supply chains being disrupted from the pandemic? Is it better, the same, or worse than a year ago?
A: Yes, obtaining vehicles and parts are still a challenge. This year has proven to be more problematic as many manufacturers have shifted priority from fleet vehicles to servicing the retail industry.
Q: Hiring qualified personnel continues to be somewhat of a challenge for many departments and agencies across the country. Do you currently have many vacancies or openings in your department…especially for fleet-related jobs?
A: Our state has made some great investments in support of Law Enforcement and our fleet is expanding as a result. I do see the need for our administrative staff supporting our fleet to expand accordingly as well in the coming years.
Q: With the exception of higher gas prices…are the general costs of maintaining a police fleet (or fleet of vehicles) coming in much higher than other years…or about the same?
A: Prices have increased across the board, about 10 percent at least on everything, it seems, and we are adjusting. We constantly assess where we can find savings going forward. We find ourselves thinking more creatively and being much more strategic and specific on the way we outfit and utilize our tools.
Q: How do you handle all the new technology and upgrades in the police vehicles today? Is it making your job easier…or more complicated and difficult?
A: Advancements in police vehicle technology have overall made my job easier. There are a variety of solutions to obstacles that we frequently face at a variety of price points and application levels. I am constantly impressed by the ingenuity I see in this industry.
Karen Griggs Fleet Manager Colorado Department of Public Safety
Q: What is your current title? How long have you been responsible for police vehicles and/or vehicle purchases?
A: I am the Fleet Manager for the Colorado Department of Public Safety. I have been in the fleet industry for over 30 years, 21 of it in First Responder vehicle procurement and management.
Q: What are a few of your key, primary responsibilities?
A: I oversee the day-to-day operations of the Public Safety fleet. I am responsible for the writing of the specifications and the procurement of the new vehicles and the emergency equipment that goes along with the vehicles.
Q: If you had to pick one or two fleet-related issues that ‘keep you up on a Sunday night,’ what would they be?
A: First would be the current vehicle procurement challenges with the manufacturers cancelling vehicles, not building the vehicles on order, or holding the built vehicles until chips become available. The second issue is how to keep our current, very talented employees motivated to remain working in the state system.
Q: Have you ever been to Police Fleet Expo or FPCX? If so, what was your experience like?
A: I have been attending since 2016. I believe that this is a must-go-to conference for anyone in the Law Enforcement arena. The information I have received at the conference has been invaluable. The connections you make with the manufacturers of the emergency vehicles and emergency equipment is priceless. Not only do you see what is up and coming, but you also can work directly with them to solve existing issues and concerns. It is invaluable to have a go-to person when you need something.
Q: How do you keep up (or keep current) on new vehicles, new vehicle equipment, new products in the market? Include all that apply. (Trade Shows, Magazines, Websites, Manufacturer Reps, etc.)
A: Police Fleet Expo (FPCX) is the primary place, but also with the connections made with the manufacturers. The CSP Troopers are always sending information on equipment that they see and think is cool for us to present to the equipment committee.
Q: Who makes the final vehicle purchasing decisions within your agency? Include all that apply. (Police Chief, Fleet Manager, etc.)
A: This is a combined process between the Fleet Manager and the leadership of each individual agency. CSP is the largest agency that I am responsible for and I work closely with Command Staff to determine the appropriate vehicles.
Q: Who makes the following purchasing decisions in your agency regarding:
A: Vehicles: Fleet Manager and agency leadership, Radios: Agency communications departments, Body Cameras: CSP Command Staff Rugged Laptops or other interior items for the vehicle: Combination of the Business Intelligence unit for the laptops and the Fleet Manager for interior items in the vehicle, Lightbars and other exterior equipment for the vehicle: Fleet Manager.
Q: What effect has the global semiconductor shortage had on your fleet? Is this better, the same, or worse than a year ago?
A: So far, the effect has not been major. I have had to change my approach to purchasing equipment. I have to plan further out to accommodate the longer delivery times for added equipment. We have had to change some of the vehicle orders to different vehicles or manufacturers due to manufacturers cancelling or not building vehicles.
Q: Is it still difficult to get vehicles or vehicle parts right now, due to the supply chains being disrupted from the pandemic? Is it better, the same, or worse than a year ago?
A: The challenge continues; in some areas, there is slight improvement, but in other areas, it has gotten worse.
Q: Hiring qualified personnel continues to be somewhat of a challenge for many departments and agencies across the country. Do you currently have many vacancies or openings in your department…especially for fleet-related jobs?
A: I am very fortunate that I have a great team with personnel who have quite a bit of experience and have been with us for a long time. We just added a couple of positions. It was a challenge to find qualified applicants, but I just filled my last open position.
Q: With the exception of higher gas prices…are the general costs of maintaining a police fleet (or fleet of vehicles) coming in much higher than other years…or about the same?
A: The labor prices have increased quite a bit. Dealerships have raised their hourly labor rate in some cases as much as 35 percent and the smaller, independent shops are following suit. The material costs have gone up also, especially on oil.
Q: How do you handle all the new technology and upgrades in the police vehicles today? Is it making your job easier…or more complicated and difficult?
A: Improved technology is always good. The technology, depending on what it is, may make the job easier for the driver, but requires more work for the technician building the vehicle. There are always training challenges with new technology.
By Brad Brewer
Afew months ago, the Michigan State Police (MSP) conducted its annual testing of police vehicles and police motorcycles. The following month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department (LASD) also conducted its annual vehicle testing. The MSP event runs over four days and takes place at several unique locations in Michigan, depending on the specific tests being performed.
The vehicle acceleration, top speed, and braking tests are performed at the Chelsea Proving Grounds. This 4.7mile 140 mph neutral steer banked oval provides the appropriate space to obtain accurate test results at top speeds. The ABS brake test is also performed at the Chelsea Proving Grounds. Both the motorcycle and vehicle dynamics testing are performed at Grattan Raceway.
It is also appropriate to put in context as to why these vehicle tests are conducted and why they are so valuable to Law Enforcement across North America when they evaluate police vehicles to purchase.
MSP and LASD are not governing bodies that decide which vehicles get blessed with the sacred description of “Pursuit Rated”; that couldn’t be further from the truth. Both these agencies have a long history of testing vehicles designed for use in the rigorous environment that is frontline policing. It is the nature of the
job that requires frontline officers to do extraordinary things to keep the public safe. When officers are forced to escalate to high-risk activities, their vehicle must be able to perform consistently at a high level with a non-existent failure rate.
At some point in every annual budget meeting, most Fleet Managers have had to justify the costs of a “Pursuit Rated” vehicle over a retail vehicle. Inevitably, someone in local government will ask the question “What does ‘Pursuit Rated’ actually mean?” The reality is no one can really define the term “Pursuit Rated” or give a specific vehicle that official designation. This is an excerpt from the
MSP Annual Report, which appropriately explains the rating:
The term ‘pursuit capable’ is more appropriate as there is no sanctioning body, or specific performance criteria, to determine if the vehicle meets a specialized designation. Each vehicle has been modified from a civilian vehicle to perform better under the rigors of police use. These vehicles are engineered to repetitively stop in a shorter distance, accelerate faster, and handle better than the base platform. Modifications to engines, cooling systems, transmissions and shifting parameters, brakes, tires, stability control programming, and other
changes may all be included as part of the manufacturer’s police package.
The MSP has performance criteria attached to its purchasing specifications. The criteria have historically been that a vehicle must accelerate from 0–60 mph in 9.0 seconds, 0–80 mph in 14.9 seconds, and 0–100 mph in 24.6 seconds. The vehicle must reach 110 mph in 4,838 feet and 120 mph in 8,985 feet. The vehicle must maintain an average deceleration rate of 25.79 ft/sec2 while performing twenty 60–0 mph threshold braking stops. The vehicle must also successfully complete all 32 laps of the Grattan Raceway dynamics testing without major component failure. Meeting these criteria does not certify a vehicle as being ‘pursuit rated’; rather, it justifies a vehicle is capable of performing the job function the MSP requires in a police vehicle. When reading the testing results, it is up to each agency to determine if the vehicle is suitable for the mission of their agency.
Fleet Managers must be aware the MSP tests are different from their counterparts out west at the LA County Sherriff’s (LASD) vehicle test, which is also run annually. MSP is a fullservice agency that devotes a lot of time to freeway patrol depending on the geographical area being patrolled. As such, they devote considerable resources to highway traffic patrol. Therefore, performance at freeway speeds is important to them and their testing reflects that. MSP tests all vehicles for top speed; since today’s vehicles are most often speed limited by software, it’s a simple verification of the manufacturers’ claims. Essentially, MSP wants to know, will it hit the advertised speed?
The top speed testing methodology is designed to follow the fourth acceleration run; each test vehicle continues to accelerate to the top speed attainable within 14 miles from the start of the run.
The highest speed attained within the 14mile distance is considered the vehicle’s top speed.
Unlike MSP, LASD puts 400 pounds of weight in the back of each SUV tested. LASD believes no police department would ever deploy an empty vehicle so why not test as it would likely be deployed in the real world. MSP does not add extra weight to any of the tested vehicles. MSP is testing the vehicle to verify it can meet their specific requirements and the advertised claims of the manufacturer.
During the 0–60 mph brake testing, the MSP allows each vehicle to have fresh burnished brakes (new pads and rotors); they do not require the vehicle to have been driven at all before the brakes are evaluated. The LASD method involves the vehicles being driven hard and the brakes
are hot before the brakes are tested.
The MSP test begins with ‘cold’ brakes. The first five stops are performed in a southbound direction, and the second set of stops in a northbound direction across the same surface. Once 10 stops are performed, the vehicle is driven 3.2 miles at 45 mph to allow the brakes to cool before the second sequence. After the cooling distance, the 10 stops are repeated. The exact initial velocity at the beginning of each of the 60–0 mph decelerations, and the exact distance required to make each stop, is recorded by means of a RaceLogic Vbox 3i GPS based data collection unit.
For this year’s test of the 2023 model year vehicles, MSP tested 13 vehicles: The Chevrolet PPV Tahoe 5.3L RWD and 5.3L AWD; the Chevrolet Silverado Z7X 4WD
and Z71 4WD; the Dodge Durango AWD Pursuit V-6 and V-8; the Ford PI Utility AWD 3.3L, AWD 3.0L EcoBoost, and AWD Hybrid; the Dodge Charger 3.6L AWD, Charger 5.7L RWD; the Ford F-150 Police Responder. This was the second year for the Ford Mach-e All Electric vehicle to be tested at MSP. The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer PPV was not tested this year as it is still in the protype phase of development.
Most of the vehicles submitted were carryovers from last year’s test with the only new entry being the Chevrolet Silverado Z7X and Z71 PPV Pursuit. Customers got to see these new pursuit pickups, last August, at the police fleet show in Austin, Texas, but this year was the first for them to be put through the MSP testing process.
The Chevrolet Silverado Z71 PPV is the only Pursuit pickup with an optional 2-inch lift kit available. It’s running the standard 5.3L V8 engine with 355HP and Dynamic Fuel Management system.
The Silverado PPV has a Police specific tuned 10 Speed transmission with unique Stabilitrack police tuning as well. The wheels are black 20-inch steel to complement the enormous 16-inch police special rotors and Brembo 6 piston calipers. Those massive brakes allowed the Silverado PPV to average 140 ft stopping distance upon deceleration from 60 mph. The Silverado PPV had a respectable top speed of 112 mph and had a 0–100 mph of 18.87 seconds (Z7X) and 18.70 seconds (Z71).
The Ford Lightning SSV was not tested at this year’s event. The Ford Mach-E GT version was Ford’s only electric submission, which features an all-wheeldrive (AWD) configuration and the Mach-E GT’s powertrain, which means that it utilizes dual permanent magnetic motors, including an upgraded secondary electric motor that powers the front wheels for a combined output of 480 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. Ford projects that the Mach-E GT will do
0–60 mph in 3.8 seconds and achieve an EPA-estimated 270 miles of range. Law Enforcement use will likely change these figures, and so will weather and equipment demands. It will be interesting to see the results after NYPD has their fleet of 160 deployed for a year in the field.
MSP drivers managed to do 0–60 in 3.93 seconds flat and hit 100 mph in 12.23 seconds in the Mach-E. Contrary to popular belief, the Mach-E test vehicle only had Police graphics; it did not have extra police lighting or equipment during the test. The Mach-E hit 122 mph in two miles, and after 18 miles of high-speed track testing, the Mach-E USED 30% charge on each run, it wasn’t down to 30% charge left in the battery (i.e., it went from 80% down to 50% over the eight laps).
Likely, the heat on the electric motors is the reason for the diminishing speed after the five fastest laps. Charging was
• Industry-Leading Police Radar
• Unparalleled Customer Service
• Radar + Lidar Training and Certifications
Designed to handle even the harshest of working conditions, the Stalker Lidar RLR offers industry-leading range and lightning-fast acquisition time.
Stalker traffic products are now Stalker Street Dynamics!
• Radar Speed Signs
• Messaging Signs
• Traffic Data
done after every eight laps. MSP called that performance “a good start” for EVs, but noted that charging infrastructure and speeds will need to improve before electric vehicles can completely replace ICE-powered vehicles in this capacity.
Ford has already increased the Mach-E’s usable battery capacity for the 2023 model year, which should translate to more range, and it plans on continuously improving the EV in that regard moving forward. It should also be noted that while the Mach-E is not an officially sanctioned and pursuitrated, purpose-built police vehicle, Ford has released an upfitters document to assist Fleet Managers who will deploy one regardless. Ford recommends the purchase of the GT version and not the base model to ensure there is sufficient power available for aftermarket equipment demands. Some of the highlighted results from the Vehicle Testing: The 2023 Ford F-150 Police Responder accelerated from 0–60 mph in just 5.72 seconds versus 5.8 seconds for the previous year. The pickup reached its top speed of 120 mph in just .53 miles.
Much of this improvement likely comes from recalibrated tuning for the truck’s 10-speed automatic transmission, but that isn’t the only upgrade present in the newest F-150 Police Interceptor. The truck also rides on specially developed Goodyear LT265/70R18 LRC BSW Wrangler Enforcer all-terrain tires—the only all-terrain tires available on a pursuit-rated police vehicle—which are uniquely designed to handle rapid acceleration, high speeds, and aggressive cornering on paved roads. The tires can also endure tremendous amounts of heat without sacrificing off-road capability.
For the acceleration and speed tests, among sedans, The Mustang Mach-E was fastest at 3.93 seconds for the 0–60 and 12.23 for 0–100 mph. The Charger 5.7L AWD had a 0–60 mph time of 7.27 seconds and a 0–100 mph time of 19.26 seconds. The Durango Pursuit 5.7L RWD had a top speed of 140 mph, which was 8 mph lower than the Ford PIU EcoBoost AWD at 148 mph.
The 2023 Police Interceptor Utility (PIU) 3.0L EcoBoost turned a quick 0–60 mph (5.6 seconds) and 0–100 mph times (14.74 seconds). At last year’s MSP test, the EcoBoost PIU (SUV) had the highest top speed of any vehicle tested, at 148 mph. This year, it stayed as the top dog at 148 mph. It was in 2018 when the 2019 MY EcoBoost PIU hit a top speed of 150 mph. All vehicles tested at MSP met their theoretical speed limitations.
These results are a tribute to all three vehicle OEMs and their never-ending commitment to not only improve their own product development but the overall quality of police vehicles in general. Unfortunately, too many officers are lost each year while operating a police vehicle, but this type of engineering development will hopefully contribute to reducing those losses.
It is a fact that officers today are protected by vehicles far safer than ones built even 10 years ago. All three OEMs deserve huge credit, and we should applaud them for their continued commitment to keeping all first responders safe in their vehicles.
MSP found that in the driving dynamics test, last year, the Charger 5.7L AWD had the fastest average lap speed of all vehicles tested at 1:36:31. This year, for the 2023 model year, that title now goes to the PIU 3.0L EcoBoost, which had the fastest average lap (1:35.42).
During brake testing, the Charger 5.7L RWD and AWD had a slightly better stopping distance from last year at 60 mph. Last year was 131.7 ft versus 129.6 ft for this year. But the quickest stopping vehicle was the lighter
Ford Mustang Mach-E at 122.80 ft. For the big SUVs, the new brake package on the Tahoe PPV seems to be working as that stopped 0–60 in 127.8 ft for RWD and 130.1 ft for the AWD. The Durango Pursuit 3.6L came in at 135.3 ft and the V8 Durango in at 137.7 ft.
This year, BMW submitted the 1250 RTP for testing and Harley Davidson submitted the FLHP and FLH TP. Yamaha was not able to provide a test bike in time for the test this year. The BMW was the quickest of them all at 4.10 sec to 60 mph and 9.41 sec to 100 mph.
To obtain specific detailed test results for the motorcycles and the vehicles, see the MSP website or obtain a copy of their annual report that is normally released in November following the September testing.
https://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-72297_30536_53738---,00.html
Police Fleet Professional shines a spotlight on the many new products and services that are being introduced into the Public Safety and Law Enforcement markets. Here are a few…
ro-gard™ Products, LLC., a leading manufacturer and supplier of law enforcement vehicle safety equipment, has reintroduced Riot Shields to its existing line of products. Pro-gard Riot Shields are ultra-lightweight making them a perfect tool for law enforcement in maintaining crowds, tactical deployment, or corrections. The Riot Shields are available in two different models, the body shield and the capture shield both are available in multiple sizes with customizable identification labels.
eniex Industries, a leading provider of American-made vehicle warning devices, recently introduced their newest product innovation, Feniex Quantum, available for police, fire and EMS. Unlike anything that exists in the market today, the streamlined light bar series addresses one of the largest issues in the emergency light vehicle industry - customizability. Every state in the United States and countries around the world…have different light and feature configuration requirements, making each order extremely specific. This can create production delays, susceptibility to configuration mistakes across the chain and limited ability to adjust once it’s created. Dealers are unable to stock their supply until after an order is made. After three years of engineering time and four patents, Feniex Quantum was launched with four color capable product series available in four configuration types: Single-Color, Dual-Color, Tri-Color and Quad-Color across a family of six light bars, five light sticks and 20 vehicle specific inner bars. To learn more, click here https://www.feniex.com/lightbars/quantuminterior.
oundOff Signal recently announced the official launch of bluePRINT Connect® powered by ACETECH™ technology. For the very first time, the emergency vehicle market has access to a proven solution, innovated by industry leaders, for complete vehicle and driver safety management. bluePRINT Connect® is the next generation of bluePRINT controls system platform, which marries bluePRINT automatic controls with the power of ACETECH technology’s real-time connectivity. This system centralizes fleet management, improves the efficiency and safety of vehicles and provides comprehensive analytics data needed for making smart and informed decisions when it matters most.
To learn more, click here https:// soundoffsignal.com/product/blueprintconnect/.
etina Manufacturing is “First On-Scene” with equipment for the Ford F150 Lightning called the Frunk Box. Ideal for mounting electronics, it is lockable and can be used for many purposes…such as sensitive gear storage. There are mounting provisions for 2 fans for electronic cooling (if needed). All products are now available, including Setina’s “Super Max” System and Push Bumpers. More products are coming soon.
To learn more, visit https://setina.com/cargo-solutions/trunk-tray/.
he PocketJet 8 is a compact, lightweight mobile printer that can be installed in your patrol vehicle or carried in a case while on foot patrol. The PJ8 is extremely fast and reliable, printing crisp, clear text and images at up to 13.5 full pages per minute. Each of the PocketJet models come equipped with a USB-C connection for corded communication between your printer and your computer. For a wireless connection that allows you to connect to your printer from almost anywhere, with almost any device… the PocketJet 8 offers several models with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
To learn more, visit https://brothermobilesolutions.com/ products/printers/pocketjet/.
ERO is the first ever corner led module that inserts directly into the socket hole of the OE bulb. It replaces a vehicle turn signal or brake light and then adds warning lights to your vehicle without drilling any holes in factory housings. Every HERO model is able to flash in all four warning colors –Red / Blue / Amber / White…so the same HERO lighthead can be used for police and security vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks, roadside assistance and construction vehicles. You can select the individual HERO light heads to flash whatever color combination you need and connect multiple units to flash in sync. HERO is designed for Stop, Tail, Turn and Reverse light replacements and comes in 3 different versions/indicator colors.
For more information visit https:// myhellalights.com/product/herohideaway/ or www.hellahero.com.
he R2100 Series is a high-bandwidth, exterior-mounted solution that provides police, fire, EMS and mass transit vehicles with the latest in 5G performance. Designed to be mounted on the rooftop of a vehicle or attached to IoT cabinet enclosures, the R2100 integrates the modem, antennas, and router into a single aerodynamic, ruggedized casing allowing for simplified deployment. The R2100 is available with or without Wi-Fi 6 and can be deployed as a self-contained router or to supplement an existing router as a 5G adapter.
To learn more, visit www.cradlepoint.com.
und’s all new Sub Floor Cargo Storage System expands your 2021+ Chevy Tahoe’s rear storage area, allowing you to securely stow equipment, radios, weapons and more. The SF21TAH creates a slightly raised level floor in the cargo area allowing “Sub Floor” storage including up to two hinged locking compartments and is designed to work with or without a rear cargo partition while it secures to OEM mounting points. We offer four different systems depending on your specific needs and we also have several options available for upgrading.
To learn more, click here https://lundindustries.com/products/trunk-boxes/subfloor/ sf-21tah#.ZBm99XbMLIW.
olaris vehicles are the ideal off-road machines for a variety of law enforcement uses. Operate in all climates with this 6-person heat and A/C option. Start with the fully cabbed Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS HVAC model which comes standard with heat, A/C and seating for 6…then add deluxe emergency light kit, premium emergency light bar, siren and PA system, Harvester tires and of course custom graphics. Also available in XP 1000 standard 3-person cab.
To learn more…click here https://military.polaris.com/en-us/ applications/law-enforcement/.
aw enforcement can take advantage of Skydio’s rapid deployment to gain immediate situational awareness for initial responders, on scene. Skydio drones are durable, portable and easily deployable in rugged environments…thanks to hand launch and recovery. Computer vision navigation allows police to seamlessly maneuver between aerial and low-to-ground vantage points in GPS denied environments (Skydio drones to not rely on GPS or a magnetometer for flight). The 360 degree collision avoidance helps operators fly in areas invisible from above without risk of crashing.
To learn more…click here www.skydio.com/police-drone.
Police Fleet Professional – Summer 2023 Issue
Monday, August 14th
DriveX (Ride & Drive Experience at the famous NOLA Motorsports Park)
3 Days of Training Sessions (including how to begin laying the groundwork to electrifying your fleet) Over 100 Fleet Related Vendors
Evening Events
Host
For any questions about Police Fleet Expo 2023 please email Kirk Moen at kmoen@signalbusiness group.com or call at 608-770-6364.
