Auto Car | 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 | Dodge released the Coronet PPV, the first purpose-built police cruiser. In 1966, Dodge unveiled the iconic Dodge Charger. In 2006, menacing performance and preserving the peace were perfectly married with the launch of the Dodge Charger Police Vehicle. That same year, the Collingswood Police Department of Camden County, New Jersey added a fleet of Chargers to their force and Officer Darren Lomonaco became the Charger’s newest fan.
Prior to the CPD’s upgrade, Lomonaco and his fellow officers were patrolling the streets in a hodge-podge of vehicles, many of which were originally designed for general fleet use. A beefed up suspension and bigger batteries were often times the only features that distinguished the cruisers from local taxi cabs. “The police cars we’ve had were really just kind of family cars that were…just converted for fleet use.” The 5.7L Chargers Police Vehicle, on the other hand, was a whole new breed of beast. Specifically engineered to accommodate the grueling responsibilities of a law enforcement officer, the 5.7L Charger was unlike anything the industry – or Officer Lomonaco – had ever seen. Capable of hurtling past the 0-60mph mark a full 3 seconds faster than the Ford Crown Victoria and the Chevy Impala 9C1 according to the MSP, the Charger quickly made a name for itself in the industry.
Without any bravado, the Charger earned a reputation as quite simply the best on the market. “It’s a crowd pleaser,” remarked Lomonaco, but in this instance “crowd” has a very different definition. “People have told us – criminals we’ve chased – said that ‘Ah yeah when I saw that Charger I just gave up.’ Seriously, I’m not kidding you. They’ve said ‘We saw it was a Charger and we just gave up.’” Continued Lomonaco, “They know they can outrun the Fords, you know, but they’re not outrunning that car and they’ve said it. They said they saw the Charger in their mirror and just pulled over.” More than just a tool of intimidation, the Charger PPV has also sparked a little departmental jealously. Since Collingswood is one of the only departments in Camden County currently equipped with the Charger Police Vehicle, neighboring precincts have demonstrated a little jealously, particularly when outrun. “The other cops, some of ‘em get a little mad when you pass them when you’re chasing somebody.”
The instant curb appeal born from its legacy as one of the most revered muscle cars in history is only partly responsible for its popularity amongst law enforcement, though. The rest is entirely thanks to the superior engineering. “We do a lot of risky things in our cars you know,” explained Lomonaco,
Source : www.zimbio.com
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