Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

Hello all. Our department has a small unit that does crash reconstruction and traffic enforcement. We investigate between 20-30 death due to traffic cases per year and run traffic enforcement when not working a case. Three of our officers are also SWAT officers (important when talking about equipment).

We are now issued the standard ford Crown Vic and are due for new cars next year. Our cars are issued take home vehicles and haul all our equipment (total station, cones, baracades, SWAT gear, paint, cameras, and ect).

Our administration has considered ordering Chargers for traffic enforcement. I have been looking into the Chevy Trailblazer SS. This looks to be great for a run down car and great for equipment.

I guess what I am looking for here is your thoughts and advice. I have looked into the Tahoe but it cost about 4k more than the SS and they are kinda big for a traffic car.....

SOOOOOO. lets hear it.

Thanks.

Z.

The Trailblazer LT ( either 4.2 6 cyl or the 5.3 V8 at 300 hp) is a nice ride and is going to be FAST. It is NOT pursuit rated and if you get into a crash in a non-pursuit rated vehicle...

The only SUV that is pursuit rated is the 2 wheel drive Tahoe.

So the question of the day is ...is this going to be any kind of a regular patrol vehicle used for enforcement or strictly a mule used to do non-pursuit related business.

And if it not going to be pursuit related, do you NEED the SS version ( more $$$) ?

Thanks....That's what I'm looking for.

These will be used as enforcement vehicles. Our unit does not take calls for service except for fleet crashes while on duty. We are on call for fatality crashes and work traffic enforcement otherwise.

As far as pursuit rated. What makes a vehicle pursuit rated?

Right these things would be fast. The 07 SS has the 6.0 V8 with 390 HP and 400 Tq.

Chevy's site says ...

The base model with the 4.2 6 cyl is rated at 285 hp. Thats 30 more HP than a Crown Vic !

The 5.2 V8 is rated at 300 hp

The 6.0 V8 is 390 hp and 400 ft pounds of torque. And can do 0-60 in under 6 seconds.

The price difference between the base LT and the SS starts at 4 grand.

If I was the Chief , convince me of the need for 390 hp in an SUV which also comes LOADED to the gills ?

The pursuit rating comes from the manufacturer. I think the Dodge Durango is/was the only pursuit rated 4 x 4. I am not sure but I think I recall seeing this somewhere.

Well, I guess that puts this question to rest.

Thanks for the for the professional and well thought out reply

Keep safe.

Z.

My old man's got a trailblazer. Very roomy and comfortable.

How about the Magnum? I hear they are being discontinued but don't know if that's taken effect yet. They are fast and have a large cargo area...

I hear the visibility really sucks out of the Magnums. I have to say that I am loving my government-issued Trailblazer. It handles very well (much better than the Tahoe I used to have), seems to fit in everywhere that I need it to, and is very comfortable for all my gear and me.

Trailblazers are ugly....you ever notice there's no outside keyhole on the passenger side? Why?

Trailblazers are ugly....you ever notice there's no outside keyhole on the passenger side? Why?


Goats don't have them either..

I say yes you cant go wrong with an LS2...mcsap has a good point though it will be hard to sell that to the administration...

...you ever notice there's no outside keyhole on the passenger side? Why?

My '04 Dodge Durango didn't have one either.

My last job, we had TrailBlazers (not LEO but hospital security/safety) and they had lots of room, pretty reliable, seats were pretty comfortable and they were pretty good overall.


Why not take a look at Ford Expedition or Explorer (I know several depts that have those)

Only thing is I didn't like is the size of the driver/passenger area compartment because of the center console. Not sure if you can get them taken out or not but yeah.

My '04 Dodge Durango didn't have one either.

Neither do the Chargers. It's a PITA to have to walk around the car just to unlock it. We don't get a remote keyfob. :rolleyes:

My new Imp has the remote keyfob :)

Thanks for all your thoughts and info guys. The reason we were looking into the Trailblazer SS and not just the LT or base model is the suspension package offered with the SS (as well as the LS2 under the hood). I dont remember if I said before, but our crime scene guys drive standard Trailblazers and I could not see running over 100 MPH in one of those, other than a straight line.

The charger would be great but its still a car.

The Tahoe police package would be good also but the cost is higher than the SS and it a bit large for what we are looking for.

Thanks again to all..

Z.

SUV's are great but not for traffic enforcement , high speeds etc. Why not get something used as your " mule" to carry the equipment that you need at a crash/crime scene and stick with a car for patrol ?

We got an old ambulance just for that reason.

Or see if you can scoop a Dodge Magnum wagon. This is the last year for them and it does come with the hemi.