Why do BART Police Have So Many SUVs?

At 77 SUVs for about 200 cops, that's about as many cars-per-cop as the California Highway Patrol

Three BART police SUVs taking up the loading zone next to Lake Merritt BART (and across the street from their police station parking lot). Photo: Streetsblog/Rudick

SteetBlogSF - continues

 

The real question is why do so many police departments have those "Outback" equipped SUV's anyway?
For decades, urban police were able to do their job with specially equipped sedans.
In 2019, I now have to ask why it seems every police vehicle, even suburban and city, needs to be equipped like it's going to be blazing through the undergrowth, and pulling tree stumps.

I can understand a Police department having a few, depending on population. In case the NEED for an SUV arises. But otherwise, they seem like overkill.
They do look intimidating and cool. But I'm a right tool for the job person, and I have to ask why today it seems Police Departments feel they need to be equipped with large, Bush Guard equipped SUV's.

I'm willing to listen. If I can be given a good argument as to why today, nearly ALL police vehicles are these IMO over accessorized SUV's.
Couldn't cost and maintenance be reduced by going back to the "classic" police car?

 

I'm no expert but here are some advantages for them:
More intimidating.
Higher up means they can see better and they're more visible to other vehicles.
If they need to knock a car off the road they need more mass. Kind of hard to use a 3000 lb sedan to push a 6000 lb Escalade to stop a chase.
Possibly more storage space to carry all sorts of gear and more room up front for technology like data terminals. In the old days all they had was a shotgun in the trunk- now they've got a mobile data terminal up front, possibly higher-powered weapons, flak jackets, spike strips...

 

Those are good points.
I may have to re-evaluate my opinion.

 

I'm kinda the person that feels having officers out and about in the public mix is better than having some terminator with a Swiss Army Knife of a vehicle on the road. Granted you can point to either officer being the best choice in a certain situation. I just like officers in public places with the public, including the public transportation system. This also goes with officers on bicycles and getting around.

 

Do you know any police officers? Do you think they took the job because they want a Hyundai Elantra hatch and a baton like they have in yourope?

No, they want a sweet uniform, gun, boots and the most intimidating car the towns budget let them buy. Most importantly they want authority and its all part of that.

And then of course there are the many useful reasons for an SUV that account for their popularity in every segment of America.

 

I come around again to best tool for the job.
Give me reasons why these highly equipped SUV's are needed (in the quantities they exist) and why they are the best tool for the job and I'll consider. Seriously, I think post number 3, makes some strong points.

The possible fact that the police may like the most intimidating looking vehicle that budget allows is NOT a good reason.

As a citizen what serves the community better?
"Sweet" uniforms, guns and boots and a intimidating looking SUV? But perhaps not enough police officers on the street and understaffing?
Or perhaps looking at less "Cool" looking vehicles options...that may be available at a better price, allowing funds to be used in different ways?

 

I agree. I was answering the question "why do.." and not "why should.." 😊

Probably the most logical thing is to buy suvs only in portion to how much you do "urban overland" curb hopping pursuit (explorer) large sedans for most highway work (charger) and cheaper stuff for low risk patrols (... maybe escape?) Of course then you've got a whole capacity-balancing challenge to work through every day. Just buying the most capable vehicle and not worrying about it is easier. If the municipality does not set real budget limits its easy to see why everyone wants an explorer to be the only thing in the fleet.

 

They may not know where and when a particular vehicle is necessary so they get all big ones.

I remember a while back to save money a city decided to turn off every third streetlight. They said they're cutting down light by a third.
But that's not how it works because they didn't also move the lights around for equal spacing. So in some spots it was pitch black because the nearest light was too far away.

So a highway patrolman may be the only one nearby when they have to stop a fleeing suspect.

Not saying I want my small town to have all SUVs but then again we're 2.1 square miles with three officers on duty so anyone can be anywhere in three minutes.

 

They're going to SUV because that's all the big 3 make these days.

The Crown Vic was great bc RWD, body on frame, all the parts were interchangeable going back two decades (including light bars, savings add up on stuff like that), etc.

That said, I'm sure a lot of the cops like them because this and other militarization of police makes them feel strong & manly, which admittedly says they shouldn't be put in a position of power in the first place.

 

Oh, 4WD is probably also an advantage. Maybe not in SF but certainly here in NY where they might use the car to push somebody out of the way and they have to be able to patrol in the snow and ice.

 

I'm a little late to this discussion, but I've worked for a medium sized police department for ten years now so I figure you guys might like to hear my take on it-

There's no specific push towards SUVs for my department, but that's all we're buying. There really isn't much out there besides the Explorer in the US market right now. If you sit in a regular car wearing regular clothes, you'd probably think a Taurus is a decent sized car. It's a different story once you put all the radio and computer equipment in the console, and especially once you put the prisoner cage in the back. Now it's very cramped.

I'm not in the best shape of my life right now, but I'm quite comfortable in my Fit. Until I put on my vest and equipment belt. More the belt than the vest, with a pistol, spare magazines, Taser, baton, two sets of cuffs, and two tourniquets. I can sit in the Taurus without any problem, but the Explorer is a lot more comfortable. It has almost the same amount of room as the old Crown Vic. We have a Taurus on my squad. The guy who drives it is about 5'4" and very thin. No Napoleon complex if you're wondering, he's pretty laid back when he talks to people.

We used to have several Chargers. I really liked them, but they broke down more than the Fords and for some reason it seems like it took longer to get them back when they needed repair. The back seats (again, once the prisoner cage is installed) is tiny. Not everyone that needs to go to jail is small enough to fit with the seatbelts on. There might be some amount of thought for the liability there, but mostly we stopped buying them because of reliability.

I don't know that driving an Explorer makes me feel any more manly than my wife in her CX-5. My beat partner's wife drives a RAV4, and I think my mom drives an Outback now... half the country drives a car chassis based SUV lately.

 

Thanks for that perspective.
That's an interesting angle.