FYI: The Irvine Police Department in California has introduced a specially modified Tesla Cybertruck to its DARE unit, showcasing a futuristic spin on community outreach.
Irvine Police Introduce Unique Tesla Cybertruck for Community Outreach
In a bold move towards modernizing its fleet, the Irvine Police Department in California has integrated a Tesla Cybertruck Foundation Series into its line-up. The vehicle, which has been customized to suit the needs of the department, aims to bolster the efforts of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) unit.
Back in July, the Irvine Police Department teased the arrival of this avant-garde vehicle on X by sharing an image of the Cybertruck adorned with the essential red and blue police lights. Accompanied by the caption, "Coming soon to Irvine… #cybertruck," the post generated significant buzz.
The New Role of the Cybertruck
While police forces globally have been upgrading their fleets with impressive additions like Dubai Police’s Mansory P720 and McLaren Artura, and the introduction of 20 Teslas forming the first all-electric fleet in the U.S., Irvine has taken a unique step with its Cybertruck. Unlike typical police vehicles, this particular Cybertruck will not be used for patrolling. Instead, it will serve primarily for outreach, as confirmed by Sergeant Karie Davis in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “It’s not a patrol car. It will be used for community relations,” she stated.
Further expanding on the outreach plan, Sergeant Davis told Forbes, “It’s something we can highlight at our events [where] kids can come and take pictures.” This initiative places emphasis on building a positive relationship with the community using the Cybertruck as an interactive tool.
Making the Cybertruck Event-Ready
The Cybertruck, initially purchased for the standard retail price of $99,990, included an additional $20,000 for the “Foundation Series” package. Sergeant Davis noted that this was the only model available at the time, which came with perks such as a glass roof sunshade and a ‘full self-driving (supervised)’ mode.
However, transitioning the Cybertruck from a civilian vehicle to a police-ready unit required further modifications. Enter Unplugged Performance, a company known for its UP.FIT service. They equipped the Cybertruck with necessary law enforcement gear including lights, radios, and specially designed exterior graphics, transforming it into one of the most imposing police vehicles to date.
Conclusion
With this innovative approach, the Irvine Police Department is not only setting a trend but also using cutting-edge technology to foster community relations. The Cybertruck, likely to be a hit at various events, showcases how modern vehicles can transcend their typical roles to engage with and inspire the community.
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William Rapp, Editor of Automotive.fyi
