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83-499: The Spiritwood Incident was a shooting that occurred on July 7, 2006, during a police pursuit in Saskatchewan , Canada , killing two of the three RCMP officers involved. It began in the town of Spiritwood , a community of about 1,000 people located approximately 148 kilometres (92 mi) northwest of Saskatoon , and ended near Mildred , approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi) away. On July 7, 2006, three officers from

166-449: A shootout , became the first police chase to be broadcast live on television, airing on three channels and preempting daytime programs on the station. The chase was reportedly so popular that, when one station switched to a rerun of Matlock , several viewers called in to complain and request they continue airing the chase. This convinced stations to show further live coverage of police pursuits. In 2002, 700 pursuits were reported in

249-570: A tablet or a dashboard-mounted laptop installed in the car. Suspect transport enclosures are typically located at the rear of the vehicle, taking up the rear seats or rear compartment. The seats are sometimes modified to be a hard metal or plastic bench. Separating the transport enclosure is often a partition, a barrier between the front and rear compartments typically made of metal with a window made of reinforced glass , clear plastic, or metal mesh or bars. Some police cars do not have partitions; in these instances, another officer may have to sit in

332-683: A SWAT vehicle, tactical vehicle, or rescue vehicle, is an armored vehicle used in a police capacity. They are typically four-wheeled armored vehicles with similar configurations to military light utility vehicles , infantry mobility vehicles , internal security vehicles , MRAPs , or similar armored personnel carriers , that lack mounted and installed weaponry. As their name suggests, they are typically used to transport police tactical units such as SWAT teams, though they may also be used in riot control or to establish police presence at events. A mobile command center, also known as an emergency operations center, mobile command post, or mobile police station,

415-513: A call for back-up, and was one of the first officers to find the constables at the scene. The two officers later died of their wounds, Cameron on July 15 and Bourdages early the next morning, on July 16. The bullet fragments that struck Knopp have since remained embedded in her ear, arm, and torso. A massive manhunt failed to find Dagenais, who turned himself in without incident to the RCMP's Spiritwood detachment on July 18, after twelve days. While he

498-507: A car chase that crosses municipal and jurisdictional boundaries. This is often complicated by radio communication incompatibility and policy differences in the various departments involved in a pursuit. The city of Dallas, Texas was the first major city in the United States to adopt an "Inter-Jurisdictional Pursuit Policy" to address the problems inherent in car chases that involved more than one law enforcement agency. In August 1984,

581-446: A car thief, resulting in an eight-vehicle collision in which the stolen vehicle was destroyed. In film and television , the term "car chase" refers to a chase scene involving two or more automobiles pursuing one another, which may or may not involve a police car. Feature-length films have been built entirely around car chases, often featuring high-powered exotic vehicles . They are depicted as fast moving scenes with action involving

664-417: A clear road, "wail" (a long up-and-down unbroken tone) is often used, whereas in heavy slow traffic or at intersections, "yelp" (essentially a sped-up wail) may be preferred. Other noises are used in certain countries and jurisdictions, such as "phaser" (a series of brief sped-up beeps) and "hi-lo" (a two-tone up-down sound). Some vehicles may also be fitted with electronic airhorns . A wide range of equipment

747-548: A high-profile vehicle is used, such as the James Bond and Transporter franchises, usually because the vehicles used are "star cars" (i.e. used by the film's protagonists and featured prominently). Vehicle manufacturers may also pay for product placement in a film production, such as serving as technical advisors or donating vehicles to be used in filming, and may thus send their high-profile car models for use in filming. Although car chases on film were staged as early as

830-562: A higher temperature. This is usually accomplished through installing heavy duty suspension , brakes , calibrated speedometer , tires , alternator , transmission , and cooling systems . The car's stock engine may be modified or replaced by a more powerful engine from another vehicle from the manufacturer. The car's electrical system may also be upgraded to accommodate for the additional electronic police equipment. Police vehicles are often fitted with audible and visual warning systems to alert other motorists of their approach or position on

913-513: A highway patrol car, traffic enforcement unit, speed enforcement unit, or road policing unit , is a police car tasked with enforcing traffic laws and conducting traffic stops , typically on major roadways such as highways . They are often relatively high-performance vehicles compared to patrol cars, as they must be capable of catching up to fast-moving vehicles. They may have specific markings or special emergency lights to either improve or hinder visibility. Alternatively, some traffic cars may use

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996-624: A local driver crashed a stolen vehicle into a tree, killing his two passengers following a high-speed police pursuit. The death of university student Clea Rose following a police chase in Canberra sparked major recriminations over police pursuit policies. In 2007, the United States Supreme Court held in Scott v. Harris (550 U.S. 372) that a "police officer's attempt to terminate a dangerous high-speed car chase that threatens

1079-503: A low speed chase in his white 1993 Ford Bronco after the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in Los Angeles . One notable recorded police chase occurred when an M60 Patton tank was stolen by Shawn Nelson from an Army National Guard armory , on May 17, 1995. Nelson went on a rampage through San Diego , California , with the massive tank crushing multiple civilian vehicles before becoming stuck on

1162-476: A marked patrol car, featuring markings that are either similar colors to the vehicle's body paint, or are reflective graphics that are difficult to see unless illuminated by lights or viewed at certain angles. Ghost cars are often used for traffic enforcement, though they may also be used in lieu of unmarked cars in jurisdictions where they are prohibited or have their enforcement capabilities limited, such as being unable to conduct traffic stops. In these instances,

1245-599: A number of techniques to end chases, from pleading with the driver, waiting for the driver's vehicle to run out of fuel, or hoping the driver's vehicle becomes somehow disabled to more forceful methods such as boxing in the vehicle with police cruisers , ramming the vehicle, the PIT maneuver , shooting out the tires , or the use of spike strips . Though all efforts, many of which pose risk to all involved as well as bystanders, will be aimed at avoiding danger to civilians. When available, police aircraft may be deployed, which may follow

1328-422: A police dog on board, typically just the agency's standard markings with the added notice. A decoy car is a police car used to establish a police presence, typically to deter traffic violations or speeding, without a police officer actually being present. They may be older models retired from use, civilian cars modified to resemble police cars, or demonstration vehicles. In some instances, a "decoy car" may not be

1411-474: A police officer with a video camera mounted in his cruiser recorded the pursuit of a fleeing suspect vehicle, from the initial attempts to stop his car to his eventual arrest. On January 3, 1992, a lengthy pursuit in Southern California , involving a Volkswagen Cabriolet stolen by a suspected murderer, Darren Michael Stroh, who was eventually killed by California Highway Patrol officers in

1494-461: A range of different noises. Different models and manufacturers have distinct siren noises; one siren model, the Rumbler , emits a low frequency sound that can be felt through vibrations, allowing those who would not otherwise hear the siren or see the emergency vehicle to still know it is approaching. Different siren noises may be used depending on traffic conditions and the context. For example, on

1577-440: A riot suppression vehicle or simply a riot vehicle, is an armored or reinforced police vehicle used for riot control . A wide array of vehicles, from armored SUVs and vans to dedicated trucks and armored personnel carriers, are used by law enforcement to suppress or intimidate riots , protests , and public order crimes ; hold and reinforce a police barricade to keep the scene contained; or simply transport officers and equipment at

1660-616: A road divider. Police were able to mount the tank and open the hatch, killing the suspect when he would not surrender. On June 4, 2004, welder Marvin Heemeyer went on a rampage in a heavily modified bulldozer in Granby, Colorado , wrecking 13 buildings including the town hall, the public library, a bank, a concrete batch plant, and a house owned by the town's former mayor, resulting in over $ 7 million in damage. The police were initially powerless, as none of their weapons could penetrate

1743-502: A secluded location and instead can wait until they reach somewhere safer. In the UK, officers must be wearing uniforms in order to make traffic stops. Motorists can also ask for the officer's badge and identification or call an emergency number or a police non-emergency number to confirm if the police unit is genuine. A ghost car, also known as a stealth car or semi-marked car, is a police car that combines elements of both an unmarked car and

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1826-495: A valuable tool in catching criminals in the commission of a crime or by surprise. The resemblance an unmarked police car has to a civilian vehicle varies based on their application: they may use the same models as marked patrol cars, and may be virtually identical to them aside from the lack of roof-mounted emergency lights, with pushbars and spotlights clearly visible; alternatively, they may use common civilian vehicle models that blend in with traffic, with emergency lights embedded in

1909-583: A variety of equipment for dealing with emergency situations. The first police car was an electric wagon used by the Akron Police Department in Akron, Ohio , in 1899. The first operator of the police patrol wagon was Officer Louis Mueller, Sr. It could reach 16 mph (26 km/h) and travel 30 mi (48 km) before its battery needed to be recharged. The car was built by city mechanical engineer Frank Loomis. The US$ 2,400 vehicle

1992-554: A vehicle at all, but rather a life-sized cutout or sign depicting a police car. Use of decoy cars is intended to ensure crime deterrence without having to commit manpower, allowing the officer that would otherwise be there to be freed up for other assignments. In the United Kingdom, decoy liveried police cars and vans may be parked on filling station forecourts to deter motorists dispensing fuel then making off without payment , also known as "bilking". The use of decoy cars

2075-403: A violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat to commit another violent crime due to the dangers posed by high speed pursuits. The report also recommends policies that discourage or prohibit pursuits if the suspect is riding a motorcycle. One particular hazard that is attendant to police pursuits is the problem of multiple law enforcement agencies becoming involved in

2158-569: Is a police car used for surveillance purposes. Usually SUVs, vans, or trucks, surveillance cars can be marked, unmarked, undercover, or disguised, and may be crewed or remotely monitored. They are used to gather evidence of criminal offenses or provide better vantage points at events or high-traffic areas. The surveillance method used varies, and may include CCTV , hidden cameras , wiretapping devices, or even aerial platforms . Some surveillance cars may also be used as bait cars , deployed to catch car thieves. A police armored vehicle, also known as

2241-415: Is a police car used for display and community policing purposes, but not for patrol duties. These are often performance cars, modified cars, classic police cars, or vehicles seized from convicted criminals and converted to police cars that are used to represent the agency in parades, promote a specific program (such as the D.A.R.E. program), or help build connections between law enforcement and those that

2324-424: Is a truck used to provide a central command center at the scene of an incident, or to establish a visible police presence or temporary police station at an event. A bomb disposal vehicle is a vehicle used by bomb disposal squads to transport equipment and bomb disposal robots , or to store bombs for later disposal. They are often vans or trucks, typically with at least one bomb containment chamber installed in

2407-649: Is an emergency vehicle used by police for transportation during patrols and responses to calls for service . A type of emergency vehicle , police cars are used by police officers to patrol a beat , quickly reach incident scenes, and transport and temporarily detain suspects. Police vehicles, like other emergency vehicles, usually bare livery (markings) to distinguish them as such. They often use emergency lights (usually blue, red or blue and red colored) and sirens to warn other motorists of their presence, especially when responding to calls for service. Police cars usually contain communication devices, weaponry, and

2490-413: Is carried in police cars, used to make police work easier or safer. The installation of this equipment in a police car partially transforms it into a desk. Police officers use their car to fill out different forms, print documents, type on a computer or a console, and examine different screens, all while driving. Ergonomics in layout and installation of these items in the police car plays an important role in

2573-829: Is common to the point that armed police vehicles are necessary; for example, the Iraqi Police received technicals during the Iraq War , and the National Police of Ukraine used armed vehicles during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , including the STREIT Group Spartan and a modified BMW 6 Series with a mounted machine gun. These should not be confused with police vehicles that have turrets but do not have guns, which are often just police armored vehicles or, if less-lethal munitions are used, riot control vehicles. A riot control vehicle, also known as

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2656-632: Is entirely up to the agency, though in 2005, the Virginia General Assembly considered a bill that would make decoy cars a legal requirement for police. The bill stated in part: "Whenever any law-enforcement vehicle is permanently taken out of service   ... such vehicle shall be placed at a conspicuous location within a highway median in order to deter violations of motor vehicle laws at that location. Such vehicles shall   ... be rotated from one location to another as needed to maintain their deterrent effect." A surveillance car

2739-521: Is often used to describe unmarked cars. However, this usage is erroneous: unmarked cars are police cars that lack markings but have police equipment, emergency lights, and sirens, while undercover cars lack these entirely and are essentially civilian vehicles used by law enforcement in undercover operations to avoid detection. The close resemblance of unmarked cars to civilian cars has created concerns of police impersonation . Some police officers advise motorists that they do not have to pull over in

2822-434: Is the responsibility of police within that jurisdiction. Some utility vehicles can be used for transporting teams of officers and occasionally have facilities to securely detain and transport a small number of suspects, provided there is enough seating space. A police dog vehicle, also known as a K-9 vehicle or a police dog unit, is a police car modified to transport police dogs . The models used for these vehicles range from

2905-403: Is to use technology to end or avoid the need for such chases. For example, vehicles can be tracked by aircraft or GPS tagging devices like StarChase , allowing police agencies to reliably intercept suspects using stationary blockades, lower-speed vehicles, or when the vehicle is parked. A 2023 United States Department of Justice report recommends that police should only initiate a chase only if

2988-564: The RCMP detachment in Spiritwood, Constables Robin Cameron (29), Marc Bourdages (26), and Michelle Knopp, responded to a complaint of an assault at a home close to the detachment. A man later identified as Curtis Alfred Dagenais (41) fled the scene in a pickup truck. The officers followed, and the ensuing pursuit lasted 27 kilometres (17 mi). During the chase, gunfire was exchanged between

3071-529: The Schengen Area , car chases may sometimes cross national boundaries. States often have agreements in place where the police of one state can continue the chase across the national boundary. Some car chases may occur between vehicles that are not involved in law enforcement. These may be conducted by rival criminals, criminals attempting to catch intended victims, vigilantes , or as part of road rage . They may also occur for non-criminal reasons, such as

3154-636: The emergency lights on the vehicle. These lights are used while responding to attract the attention of other road users and coerce them into yielding for the police car to pass. The colors used by police car lights depend on the jurisdiction, though they are commonly blue and red. Several types of flashing lights are used, such as rotating beacons , halogen lamps , or LED strobes . Some agencies use arrow sticks to direct traffic, or message display boards to provide short messages or instructions to motorists. The headlights and tail lights of some vehicles can be made to flash , or small strobe lights can be fitted in

3237-512: The livery markings on the vehicle. Police vehicle markings usually make use of bright colors or strong contrast with the base color of the vehicle. Some police cars have retroreflective markings that reflect light for better visibility at night, though others may only have painted on or non-reflective markings. Examples of markings and designs used in police liveries include black and white , Battenburg markings , Sillitoe tartan , and "jam sandwich" markings . Police vehicle markings include, at

3320-666: The realism of chase scenes or, when done poorly or too obviously, can be visually jarring and uncanny . Such criticism has affected recent Hollywood productions; Driven , for example, was panned for its heavy use of CGI in chase scenes. As such, some films like Ronin , The Bourne Supremacy , The Kingdom , The Dark Knight , and Need For Speed , used live-action chases with minimal use of CGI, if at all. Furious 7 used CGI for "only 10%" of its action sequences, mostly to erase production artifacts such as wires or add backgrounds, as stunt coordinator Spiro Razatos wanted to rely more on real stunts rather than CGI because he wanted

3403-445: The rear projection effect . The use of computer-generated imagery for car chases has become popular since the 2000s and, although costly, eliminates any danger to the actors and removes the necessity of damaging or destroying functional vehicles, particularly those that are rare, expensive, valuable, or not allowed to be damaged in production (such as if the car is product placement). However, some critics claim that CGI eliminates

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3486-775: The 1940s, major American automakers, namely the Big Three , began to manufacture specialized police cars. Over time, these became their own dedicated police fleet offerings, such as the Ford Police Interceptor and Chevrolet 9C1 . In the United Kingdom , Captain Athelstan Popkess , Chief Constable of the Nottingham City Police from 1930 to 1959, transformed British police from their Victorian era foot patrol beat model to

3569-574: The Dallas Police Department's Planning and Research Division, under the command of Captain Rick Stone, began crafting a policy that more than twenty (20) local law enforcement agencies could agree to abide by when car chases crossed their borders. The result was a model policy that became the standard for use by police departments around the United States. In Europe, as many national borders no longer have border stations within

3652-563: The Grappler bullbar with a tire-catching net. Alternatively, some strategies have centered around simply not pursuing suspect vehicles and instead relying on using vehicle registration to identify the suspect and apprehend them later, though this is ineffective with stolen vehicles. The earliest police chase known to be recorded on video in its entirety occurred in May 1988 in Berea, Ohio , when

3735-428: The broadcast and vowed to never let it happen again. Live news coverage of police chases is widely associated with the United States and with the city of Los Angeles in particular, which is often described by journalists as "the car chase capital of the world." High-speed car chases are recognized as a road safety problem, as vehicles not involved in the pursuit, pedestrians or street furniture may be hit by

3818-422: The car chase genre in a number of television shows and specials such as World's Wildest Police Videos , Most Shocking , and Real TV which often feature real footage of car chases involving suspects fleeing police. In addition, videos and livestreams of car chases are popular content on social media. On June 17, 1994 former NFL running back O. J. Simpson gained notoriety following national coverage of

3901-490: The city of Los Angeles . In 2003, Los Angeles television station KCAL reported a quadrupling of ratings when police pursuits aired. That same year, the Los Angeles Police Department asked news media to reduce coverage of chases, claiming that coverage encourages suspects to flee and may potentially endanger viewers who attempt to view the chase in person. Reality television has combined with

3984-434: The comfort and safety of the police officers at work and preventing injuries such as back pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Police radio systems are generally standard equipment in police cars, used to communicate between the officers assigned to the car and the dispatcher . Mobile data terminals are also common as alternative ways to communicate with the dispatcher or receive important information, and are typically

4067-523: The elusive driver, who will often violate a number of traffic laws, often repeatedly, in their attempt to escape, or by the pursuing police cars. In the United Kingdom, it is estimated that 40 people a year are killed in road traffic incidents involving police, most as a result of a police pursuit. In the United States, chase-related deaths range between 300 and 400 people per year. The February 2005 Macquarie Fields riots occurred in Sydney, Australia after

4150-542: The grille or capable of being hidden and revealed, such as Japanese unmarked cars having retractable beacons built into the car's roof. Unmarked cars typically use regular civilian license plates, occasionally even in jurisdictions where emergency vehicles and government vehicles use unique license plates, though some agencies or jurisdictions may be able to use the unique plates anyway; for example, American federal law enforcement agencies may use either government plates or regular license plates. The term "undercover car"

4233-473: The incident, Constable Michelle Knopp, was awarded the Medal of Bravery on February 26, 2009, which was invested on May 6, 2011. Police pursuit Car chases are often captured on news broadcast due to the video footage recorded by police cars , police aircraft , and news aircraft participating in the chase. Car chases are also a popular subject with media and audiences due to their intensity, drama and

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4316-689: The innate danger of high-speed driving, and thus are common content in fiction, particularly action films and video games . Car chases occur when a suspect attempts to use a vehicle to escape from law enforcement attempting to detain or arrest them. The assumed offence committed may range from misdemeanors such as traffic infractions to felonies as serious as murder . When suspects realize they have been spotted by law enforcement, they attempt to lose their pursuer by driving away, usually at high speed. Generally, suspects who police spot committing crimes for which long prison terms are likely upon conviction are much more likely to start car chases. Police use

4399-422: The job. Public outrage at such immunity has resulted in statutory exceptions. One example is California Civil Code Section 1714.9 (enacted 1982), which reinstates liability where the suspect knew or should have known that the police were present. Policy on what circumstances justify a high-speed pursuit differ by jurisdiction. Some safety advocates want to restrict risky chases to violent felonies. Another option

4482-565: The law and auto-racing exhibitions between runners which helped form the sport of stock car racing . As police forces became more accustomed to chases, they began to adopt police protocol, techniques, and technologies intended to help pursuits more quickly and safely, such as the PIT maneuver in the 1980s and spike strips in the 1990s. Since the 2010s, as the dangers of car chases become apparent, police have tested various alternative methods of tracking fleeing suspects without continuing to pursue them such as StarChase 's GPS trackers or

4565-465: The lives of innocent bystanders does not violate the Fourth Amendment , even when it places the fleeing motorist at risk of serious injury or death." In most common law jurisdictions, the fireman's rule prevents police officers injured in such pursuits from filing civil lawsuits for monetary damages against the fleeing suspects, because such injuries are supposed to be an inherent risk of

4648-672: The markings on ghost cars may be sufficient to legally count as marked police cars, despite the markings being difficult to see. A utility vehicle is a police car used for utility or support purposes as opposed to regular police duties. Utility vehicles are usually all-wheel drive vehicles with cargo space such as SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, utes, or off-road vehicles. They are often used to transport or tow assets such as trailers, equipment, or other vehicles such as police boats ; they are alternatively used for or are capable of off-roading , especially in fleets where most other vehicles cannot do so. They can also be used for animal control , if that

4731-550: The modern car-based reactive response model, through his development of the "Mechanized Division", which used two-way radio communication between police command and police cars. Under Popkess, the Nottingham City Police began to use police cars as an asset that police tactics centered around, such as overlaying police car patrol sectors over foot patrol beats and using police cars to pick up foot patrol officers while responding to crimes. Increased car ownership in

4814-504: The motor vehicle itself — one of the earliest examples being Runaway Match directed by Alf Collins in 1903 — the consensus among historians and film critics is that the first modern car chase movie was 1968's Bullitt . The 10-minute-long chase scene in Bullitt was far longer and far faster than what had gone before, and placed cameras to give perspectives from inside the cars. Previously, car chase scenes were often staged using

4897-426: The officers and Dagenais. All three officers discharged their weapons, but none of them managed to hit their quarry, meanwhile Cameron and Bourdages were both shot once in the head through their car windshield while Knopp was struck by bullet fragments in the arm, ear, and torso. Dagenais abandoned his car and escaped on foot. Working in the nearby town of Shellbrook that night, Staff Sergeant Barry Thomas received

4980-456: The organization of the law enforcement agency , the class of vehicle used as a police car, and the environmental factors of the agency's jurisdiction, many of the types below may or may not exist in certain fleets, or their capabilities may be merged to create all-rounded units with shared vehicles as opposed to specialized units with separate vehicles. A patrol car is a police car used for standard patrol. Used to replace traditional foot patrols,

5063-407: The patrol car's primary function is to provide transportation for regular police duties, such as responding to calls, enforcing laws, or simply establishing a more visible police presence while on patrol. Driving a patrol car allows officers to reach their destinations more quickly and to cover more ground compared to other methods. Patrol cars are typically designed to be identifiable as police cars to

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5146-511: The post- World War II economic expansion led to police cars becoming significantly more common in most developed countries, as police jurisdictions expanded farther out into residential and suburban areas, car-oriented urban planning and highways dominated cities, vehicular crimes and police evasion in cars increased, and more equipment was issued to police officers, to the point that vehicles became practically necessary for modern law enforcement. Various types of police car exist. Depending on

5229-632: The public and thus almost always have proper markings, roof-mounted emergency lights, and sirens. A response car, also known as a pursuit car, area car, rapid response unit, or fast response car, is a police car used to ensure quick responses to emergencies compared to patrol cars. It is likely to be of a higher specification, capable of higher speeds, and often fitted with unique markings and increased-visibility emergency lights. These cars are generally only used to respond to emergency incidents and may carry specialized equipment not used in regular patrol cars, such as long arms . A traffic car, also known as

5312-465: The pursuing vehicle simply attempting to catch up to another vehicle. These car chases are rare and are almost always considered illegal due to the dangers of civilian vehicles, lacking any sort of warning device or authorization, pursuing each other at high speeds. In 2021, actor Terrence J was pursued and shot at by a vehicle in an attempted robbery. In 2021, a carjacking victim in Chicago pursued

5395-647: The rear of the vehicle, and ramps to allow bomb disposal robots to access the vehicle. Bomb disposal vehicles are generally not explosive-resistant and are only used for transporting explosives for disposal, not actively disposing of them. An armed police vehicle is a police vehicle that has lethal weaponry installed on it . These are often technicals or light utility vehicles with machine gun turrets , and may or may not lack emergency lights and sirens. Armed police vehicles are very rare and are usually only used in wartime, in regions with very high violent crime rates, or where combat with organized crime or insurgencies

5478-546: The rear or sides, making them appear unmarked when viewed from the front. Another unofficial passive visual warning of police vehicles can simply be the vehicle's silhouette if its use as a police car is common, such as that of the Ford Crown Victoria in North America, or the presence of emergency vehicle equipment on the vehicle, such as a pushbar or a roof-mounted lightbar. Active visual warnings are

5561-448: The rear to secure the detainee, or a dedicated transport vehicle may be called. Weapons may be stored in the trunk or front compartment of the vehicle. In countries where police officers are already armed with handguns , long guns such as rifles or shotguns may be kept on a gun rack in the front or in the trunk, alongside ammunition. In countries where police are not armed or do not keep their guns on them, handguns may be kept in

5644-429: The road. In many countries, use of the audible and visual warnings affords the officer a degree of exemption from road traffic laws (such as the right to exceed speed limits, or to treat red stop lights as a yield sign) and may also suggest a duty on other motorists to yield for the police car and allow it to pass. Warning systems on a police vehicle can be of two types: passive or active . Passive visual warnings are

5727-482: The same as patrol cars to dedicated SUVs, pickup trucks, or vans. To provide sufficient space for the police dog, there is usually a cage in the trunk or rear seats with enough space for the dog, though some agencies may put the cage in the front passenger seat, or may lack a cage entirely and simply have the dog in the rear compartment. There may or may not be space to transport detainees or additional officers. Police dog vehicles almost always have markings noting they have

5810-468: The same models as patrol cars, and may barely differ from them aside from markings, radar speed guns , and traffic-oriented equipment. An unmarked car is a police car that lacks markings and easily-visible or roof-mounted emergency lights. They are generally used for varying purposes, ranging from standard patrol and traffic enforcement to sting operations and detective work. They have the advantage of not being immediately recognizable, and are considered

5893-402: The scene in a manner safer than what could be achieved with a standard police car. Common modifications include tear gas launchers, shields, and caged windows. Some riot control vehicles also include less-lethal weaponry and devices, such as water cannons and long-range acoustic devices . A community engagement vehicle, also known as a liaison vehicle, demonstration vehicle, or parade car,

5976-463: The specifications required by the purchasing police service. Several vehicle manufacturers provide a "police package" option, which is built to police specifications from the factory. Agencies may add to these modifications by adding their own equipment and making their own modifications after purchasing a vehicle. Modifications a police car might undergo include adjustments for higher durability, speed, high-mileage driving, and long periods of idling at

6059-465: The speed of the vehicles involved, and the potential collisions and the debris resulting from the wreckage. Staging car chase sequences often requires numerous takes and destruction of several vehicles (whether intentional or mishap). Therefore, it is common to use older vehicles that are 1–2 generations behind the current models on the market, since these can be second-hand acquisitions at low cost due to depreciation . There are some exceptions wherein

6142-513: The suspect's vehicle. However, the bulldozer's engine failed and the machine became stuck, so Heemeyer committed suicide by gunshot. On July 27, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona , two helicopters collided in mid air while filming a police pursuit. Both were AS-350 AStar news helicopters from the KNXV-TV and KTVK news stations. All four occupants of both aircraft were killed. No one on the ground

6225-715: The vehicle appeals to. Some cars can be visibly marked but not fitted with audio or visual warning devices. These are often used by community liaison officers, administrative staff, or high-ranking officers for transport to meetings, engagements, and community events. Some vehicles are produced by automotive manufacturers with police markings to showcase them to police departments; these are usually concepts, prototypes, or reveals of their police fleet offerings. Emergency vehicle equipment manufacturers such as Federal Signal , Whelen , and Code 3 also use unofficial police cars to demonstrate their emergency vehicle equipment. Police cars are usually passenger car models which are upgraded to

6308-468: The vehicle from above while ground units may or may not be involved. The use of automobiles to evade law enforcement has existed for about as long as the automobile itself; newspaper reports of police chases involving automobiles and motorcycles date back to the 1900s and 1910s. During Prohibition in the United States , bootleggers and moonshine runners often engaged in high-speed chases with police. This led to rise of car modifications intended to outrun

6391-452: The vehicle lights. Audible warnings are the sirens on the vehicle. These sirens alert road users to the presence of an emergency vehicle before they can be seen, to warn of their approach. The first audible warnings were mechanical bells, mounted to either the front or roof of the car. A later development was the rotating air siren , which makes noise when air moves past it. Most modern police vehicles use electronic sirens, which can produce

6474-697: The very least, the word " police " (or a similar applicable phrase if the agency does not use that term, such as " sheriff ", " gendarmerie ", " state trooper ", " public safety " etc.) and the agency's name or jurisdiction (such as " national police " or " Chicago Police "). Also common are the agency's seal, the jurisdiction's seal, and a unit number. Text is usually in the national language or local language, though other languages may be used where appropriate, such as in ethnic enclaves or areas with large numbers of tourists. Unmarked vehicles generally lack passive visual warnings, while ghost cars have markings that are visible only at certain angles, such as from

6557-732: The whole sequence to "feel real" and fulfill audience's expectations so only 10 percent of the action sequences in the film were computer-generated, and even then, much of the CGI was employed simply to erase the wires and other contraptions that were used to film real cars and drivers or to add a background. Many video games , often within the open world and racing genres, tend to contain, if not focus on, car chases of some sort, usually involving police. Many of these chases are often heavily stylized, with police often ramming or even shooting suspect vehicles, or deploying dedicated "pursuit units" in performance cars . Police cruiser A police car

6640-458: Was Dagenais who had fired first and intentionally shot the officers. After two days of deliberations, on 12 March 2009, the jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder . He is not eligible for parole until 2031. On September 17, 2012, Dagenais was granted an appeal date for October 25. After less than 10 minutes of deliberation, the appeal was dismissed on all 3 points. The surviving officer from

6723-490: Was equipped with electric lights, gongs, and a stretcher. The car's first assignment was to pick up a drunken man at the junction of Main and Exchange streets. Ford introduced the flathead V8 in the 1932 Ford as the first mass-marketed V8 car; this low-priced, mass-marketed V8 car became popular with police in the United States , establishing strong brand loyalty that continued into the 21st century. Starting in

6806-515: Was injured. On September 28, 2012, Fox News aired a live police chase in Arizona which ended in the suspect exiting the vehicle and shooting himself after a short foot chase. Fox News was airing it in a five-second delay instead of a normal ten-second delay, which resulted in the shooting being aired on a live broadcast of the Fox Report . Fox anchorman Shepard Smith soon apologized for

6889-640: Was on the run, Dagenais mailed a self-justifying 5-page letter to the Edmonton Sun . Dagenais' trial took place in 2009 at the Court of King's Bench for Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, before Justice Gerald Allbright. During the trial, Dagenais argued he had not intentionally shot the officers. He claimed that he feared for his life and shot in blind panic out in self-defence and that the three officers fired first after ramming his truck. The Crown argued that it

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