The last thing you ever want to happen is to find yourself inside a police vehicle for an unpleasant reason. But with so many police cars plying the streets, responding to crimes, and probably hiding in plain sight, you can’t help but get curious: what is in it?
How does a typical police car look and feel? These are the most common components you’ll find:
1. Sirens
What are police sirens? Police sirens are speakers installed in cars that emit warning signals. They usually work with LED light bars for a truck that illuminate blue and red colors (more on this later).
The inventor of the siren is hard to determine since people attribute it to many scientists. However, in the United States, it didn’t become popular until the 1960s. By then, police cars had already used electronic ones complete with amplifiers.
Police sirens are designed so that sounds are loud enough to get people out of the way of oncoming vehicles or pull them over. Police officers may also use these when driving at high speeds for other drivers to give way.
The lights, meanwhile, are already visible within two to three miles. The bars are lightweight, so they don’t affect the speed and the condition of the vehicle.
2. Equipment Storage Area
The equipment storage area is located on the side of the car’s trunk, just above the sign indicating “Police.” This part of the car serves two main purposes. First, it can store equipment that won’t fit in the rest of the car, such as a fire extinguisher. Secondly, it’s a counter where a police officer can write reports during traffic stops or complete other tasks while near the vehicle.
Besides the fire extinguisher, police officers are likely to carry:
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra cartridges for their guns
- Radio microphone
- Bullet casings, knives, gloves, digital cameras, and binoculars
3. Emblems or Other Markings
Police car emblems are major markings that make the vehicle stand out. They are often made of brass, steel, or aluminum.
The emblems have three main components:
- A symbol of authority – such as a police badge or seal
- The force name and state or agency that they represent
- Lettering for the department’s title, such as “Police”
Some cars may also use emblems to indicate what kind of service it belongs to. Emblems also indicate what type of law enforcement agency is issuing them. Furthermore, they may include stickers that show other information, such as whether the car has airbags, the highest rank of its driver, or special equipment.
However, not all cars use emblems for this purpose. Some don’t have any markings to conceal the purpose of the vehicle and make it easier to catch offenders, especially those speeding. However, this setup has been controversial, with some lawmakers wanting to limit their use.
4. Emergency Lights
Police vehicles are equipped with light bars to increase their visibility during emergencies and traffic stops. By law, these light bars should emit tactical colors.
Red is usually reserved for emergencies, which is why ambulances flash them. Blue lights often indicate the presence of a police car, while in some states, the same vehicle could illuminate white or even amber. These colors work well in the evening.
But it is also not uncommon to see police vehicles flashing at least two colors, red and blue. These could indicate a hot pursuit or an emergency that the police also need to respond to.
5. Broadcast Equipment
Police cars are equipped with two-way devices for communicating with headquarters, other officers, and citizens while on duty. These include:
- Broadcast Receivers (AM/FM Radios and Scanners) – These allow the officer to check weather conditions to decide if they need to use the siren and lights.
- Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) – These allow officers to process information while on the road.
- Two-way radios – These allow officers to communicate with headquarters and each other, especially when there is no cell phone signal. In some situations, it’s also possible for police officers in a car or on foot to communicate with officers in a helicopter.
6. Backseat Cages
Backseat cages or prisoner partitions are just as they sound: a large area in the back of the vehicle where prisoners can be detained. They can also be restrained there with handcuffs, depending on the risk of danger to the police.
These cages have been standard equipment in police cars for decades. But some believe they are prone to abuse. Instead, officers can consider using “less-risky options.”
Not all police vehicles have cages, however. It depends on the size of the car. Sedans, which can accommodate only a few people in the space, are less likely to have them.
Usually, police cars look small, but inside, they have been designed to make officers efficient, effective, productive, and safe while in the field.
