NCJ Number
217965
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 112,114,116
Date Published
March 2007
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Based on information obtained from a representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and two Wisconsin-based custom vehicle manufacturers, this article discusses the advantages of custom-built law enforcement vehicles and the procedure for designing them.
Abstract
The main advantage of a custom-built law enforcement vehicle is that it performs exactly what an agency wants to achieve in the situations for which it was designed. Custom vehicles can be designed for a variety of law enforcement situations, including mobile command and/or communications; SWAT and tactical operations; bomb threats; mobile laboratory; medical response; decontamination; or multipurpose. The process of designing a custom vehicle begins with an agency's defining of the needs it wants to be met with the vehicle. The specifications are then brought to a custom manufacturer who listens to the customer's needs and provides feedback on whether and how these needs and specifications can be met in a customized vehicle. A custom vehicle starts with a body and a chassis engineered to individual specifications. Custom vehicles are available on either a commercial or custom chassis. Depending on size and style, the interior of custom vehicles are generally divided into three sections: a forward communications center, central access galley, and rear command/conference room. The interior equipment can be modified or substituted to include a range of technologies. The vehicle is specialized to the extent of the type of engine and the number of doors in the cab and into the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle can also include an exterior workstation with access to telephone, radio, and audio/video technology.