Discuss the vulnerability of police cars to theft. What are some of the primary concerns, and what technological innovations have been employed to prevent the theft of patrol cars?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Police vehicles are also vulnerable to thieves. About the only police vehicle that appears to be immune from theft is a K-9 vehicle. A stolen unit driven by a fleeing felon might run down civilians, practically guaranteeing that the department will be sued. In addition, police cars grant the drivers access to high-security areas, so terrorists would jump at the chance to obtain one.

Technology offers some solutions to prevent the theft of police cars. One solution is a brake-light kill switch. With the brake lights cut off, the car will not come out of park even when running. Another solution is a secure-idle system in which an officer presses a button, places the transmission in park, turns the key to the normal off position, and removes the key. The engine keeps running and all accessories remain on, but any unauthorized attempt to step on the brake or move the shift lever out of park cuts all electrical power. This system can also trigger an optional alarm. The system is deactivated by putting the key back into the ignition and turning it to the on position.