Do you find the trend of aggressively styled police vehicles troubling?

Are you troubled by aggressively styled police vehicles

  • Yes

  • No


Results are only viewable after voting.

momeNt

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2011
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352
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Maybe most find this pretty unremarkable, but I disagree entirely.

There have been aggressively styled cars for a long time, but police vehicles have remained modest in their styling (crown victoria, chevy caprice).

Police vehicles are more and more becoming either aggressively styled sedans (new taurus, challengers, etc) or large aggressive SUV models (Tahoe, new explorers). I think that this is indicative of a shifting psychology of police officers, less about protect and serve, and more about suiting up in combat gear and being badass. Well a crown vic isn't very badass but that new Challenger? Very badass.

What are your thoughts on this.

Excerpt from design contest in Willoughby, Ohio, a relatively peaceful suburb of Cleveland. http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Willoughby-Ohio.html

2012 was the first year that our Department changed cruisers from the Crown Victoria to the Taurus Police Interceptor. We wanted a bold, aggressive style and design to go with the new cruisers. Our design was created and agreed upon by all of our 66 full time and part time sworn officers. The royal blue has been used in our cruiser designs in the past. The black and blue color scheme was different than others; it created a bold, aggressive look to it.

http://www.hendonpub.com/pvdc/peoples_choice?entry=420632

Why do police now feel the need to be "bold" and "aggressive"?

If I were mayor I would like for my police force to drive cars that are styled more modestly. These people are supposed to be serving and protecting the public, not intimidating the public with aggressive cars.
 

Smoblikat

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2011
5,184
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If you are afraid of how a car looks I suggest you refrain from driving on any public road. I am far more interested in what guns/weapons they have, than I am with what body style their car is.

I think you just have a case of hypersensitivity.
 

Ackmed

Diamond Member
Oct 1, 2003
8,487
533
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Um, Ford STOPPED making the Crowne vic. And they Chevy Caprice is no longer like it used to be. This just in; Big heavy cars are no longer made. This is an idiotic topic. AND a Tahoe is actually cheaper to buy and run than a new charger, etc. But the public's perception is, "Oh look at all the gas waste, the government doesn't care".
 

Fayd

Diamond Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,970
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www.manwhoring.com
i like it. and it makes police easy to identify from a distance

I preferred the crown vics. from what I understand of general perception when some moved to the new charger, they also preferred the crown vics. I can't see the point of a challenger. Isn't it a coupe?
 

momeNt

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2011
9,290
352
126
If you are afraid of how a car looks I suggest you refrain from driving on any public road. I am far more interested in what guns/weapons they have, than I am with what body style their car is.

I think you just have a case of hypersensitivity.

I'm not afraid of the styling itself. I am wondering what psychological undertones drove the police force to find this kind of styling necessary.


Also, Ford would not stop the production of the vehicle without overwhelming support for change from the police departments that were purchasing them. Why did they lose support?
 

momeNt

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2011
9,290
352
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Perhaps it could just mean that the police feel more entitled than they previously were and exercised that entitlement towards getting cars they actually wanted to drive? No aggressive undertones.

There is always a reason for change, i'm simply exploring it.
 

brycejones

Lifer
Oct 18, 2005
27,648
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Perhaps it could just mean that the police feel more entitled than they previously were and exercised that entitlement towards getting cars they actually wanted to drive? No aggressive undertones.

There is always a reason for change, i'm simply exploring it.

The reason for change isn't complicated here. Crown Vics aren't made anymore.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
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I'm not afraid of the styling itself. I am wondering what psychological undertones drove the police force to find this kind of styling necessary.


Also, Ford would not stop the production of the vehicle without overwhelming support for change from the police departments that were purchasing them. Why did they lose support?
WTF!?!?!?!
Has your condition been formally diagnosed?
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
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I preferred the crown vics. from what I understand of general perception when some moved to the new charger, they also preferred the crown vics. I can't see the point of a challenger. Isn't it a coupe?

from what google says yeah, the police challengers are coupes. figured they'd want 4 doors hmm. all the cop cars around here are either crown vics or chargers.


to me all that makes a police car look like a police car are bull bars and the light bar, and maybe the spotlight on vics. now that they switched to led bars they're a little harder to spot.
 

Doppel

Lifer
Feb 5, 2011
13,306
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Yes.

I think it is part of the Rambo-esque militarization many of the country's police forces are now embracing. Too many cops see themselves as urban soldiers first and police ("To serve and protect") last.

Even podunk police departments are getting vehicles designed to withstand IEDs and prolonged combat. And innocents are getting killed as part of this insane dick measuring childishness. They spend so much time at the range with their assault rifles and assaulting mock houses that SWAT are now regularly used for entirely non-violent crimes. Why? Because fuckin' eh! 'Murica.

https://www.aclu.org/militarization
 

who?

Platinum Member
Sep 1, 2012
2,327
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The aggressive styling is what nonpolice citizens want.(It's unconstitutional for the military to do policing so cops are also civilians.). The manufacturers have to meet the fuel economy standards with the police cars too.
 

davmat787

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2010
5,512
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If anything, just another symptom (albeit minor) of the growing militarization and aggressiveness of many police departments.

My latest gripe is just how friggin bright these new LED light bars are. They are seriously a dangerous distraction when you get one or worse, two or three, of them on the side of the highway. They are so bright they can block your vision beyond, and of course bright lights naturally attract ones eyes to it.

Also, Challenger = 2 door and Charger = 4 door. Never seen a police Challenger around here, but the Charger is by far the most common police car.
 

who?

Platinum Member
Sep 1, 2012
2,327
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Does aggressive styling have a deterrent effect against criminals or do they take it as a challenge?
 

momeNt

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2011
9,290
352
126
WTF!?!?!?!
Has your condition been formally diagnosed?

I have no condition other than the clarity of mind to see the government for what it truly is.

There are no shepherds in this pasture, only sheep and wolves, which are you?
 

Angry Irishman

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2010
1,883
1
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Those designs don't bother me, these do:
bilde
 

momeNt

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2011
9,290
352
126
If anything, just another symptom (albeit minor) of the growing militarization and aggressiveness of many police departments.

My latest gripe is just how friggin bright these new LED light bars are. They are seriously a dangerous distraction when you get one or worse, two or three, of them on the side of the highway. They are so bright they can block your vision beyond, and of course bright lights naturally attract ones eyes to it.

Also, Challenger = 2 door and Charger = 4 door. Never seen a police Challenger around here, but the Charger is by far the most common police car.

I should have said Charger. I mixed them up!
 

momeNt

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2011
9,290
352
126
I think that the addition of the aggressive police cars is a more overt expression of the militarization than going full commando to serve a warrant to non-violent criminals.

One you only hear about from proponents against the militarization of the police force, or simply just people who want to legalize pot. The other (police cars) is a constant reminder every single day.
 

DominionSeraph

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
8,386
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What car would you suggest they use? You know auto styling changes over the years and we're not in the bland 90's anymore, right?

1995 Camry:

1995-96_Toyota_Camry.jpg


2013:
2013-Toyota-Camry-SE-right-front-1024x640.jpg


Oh noes, my freedoms!
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
I have no condition other than the clarity of mind to see the government for what it truly is.

There are no shepherds in this pasture, only sheep and wolves, which are you?
You think police vehicles are chosen based on styling with one criteria being psychological undertones? Really? Function, warranty, serviceability, price and the availability of equipment required to function as a police vehicle are superseded by styling?

And your statement that Ford would still be producing the Crown Vic if not for losing support from police departments is just bizarre. Do you actually think that an auto manufacturer would continue to produce a car line with the sole buyer being police departments? That's so naïve as to be unbelievable.
 

Spungo

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2012
3,217
2
81
Even podunk police departments are getting vehicles designed to withstand IEDs and prolonged combat. And innocents are getting killed as part of this insane dick measuring childishness. They spend so much time at the range with their assault rifles and assaulting mock houses that SWAT are now regularly used for entirely non-violent crimes. Why? Because fuckin' eh! 'Murica.

https://www.aclu.org/militarization

What they should be doing is working on their hand to hand combat. Guns and pepper spray are great tools, but how often do you really pull a gun and start firing at criminals? Being up close and personal happens every single day.
It cannot be overstated how much of a difference mma fighting makes. What made jiu jitsu famous was the way a small fighter could submit a much larger and stronger fighter. Judo and wrestling are like that as well. You don't realize how important skill is until a woman half your size chokes you out with little effort. This seems more important today because there are a lot of female cops, and many of them are not much bigger than me.

I think this would also make cops a lot more relaxed; knowing that they could completely destroy you even without weapons. Lots of MMA fighters say this. Feeling powerful and in control really takes the edge off.