By Ricardo Roura
Apr 16, 2024, 11:27 PM EDT
He Anaheim Police Department (APD) incorporated six Tesla Model Y units that it already has ready to join its patrol fleet.
APD officials reported that the units They could be obtained directly from the inventory that the electric vehicle company currently has because the city already urgently needed new police cars.
“Vehicle production was stopped due to COVID. We have an old fleet and some of the vehicles we have been trying to purchase have taken a long time,” said APD Sergeant Jacob Gallacher.
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Six weeks ago, the Anaheim City Council approved a $320,000 pilot program to acquire new patrols.
Lieutenant Gallacher said that two of the new police units are now ready to enter the police serviceand that work is being done to have the four remaining units as soon as possible.
“The Tesla costs a little more than a traditional police vehicle. However, throughout the life cycle of the automobile, the city will really benefit you due to maintenance cost and fuel savings“Gallacher highlighted.
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From the corporation, It was reported that 16 officers are under training to drive the new units with electric vehicles. There will be daily evaluations on the performance of the new patrols to see their performance in response to the needs of the city.
“We plan to charge them to 80% every day, so they will have a range of approximately 260 miles. Our officers drive between 80 and 120 miles a day,” Gallacher said.
the police department will maintain oversight of the reliability and profitability of Tesla cars as patrols in various environments.
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However, the incorporation of electric cars as patrols have not had unanimous support among the community of the city of Anaheim due to the uncertainty about their operation as police response vehicles.
Critics have said the first electric vehicle patrol needs to be put on the streets to know your performance and what your needs are in their patrol duties.
The Anaheim Police Department said be ready to put Tesla units to the test on the streets of the city.
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“If they don’t work on patrol, then there are options to include them in a community policing team or use them as school resource officers,” Gallacher considered.
Although other Southern California police agencies have launched the use of electric vehicles, Anaheim police hope be the first to do it in a totally different way.
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“We would like to be the first agency in Orange County to have a Cybertruck. So, Elon, if you’re looking and want to donate a Cybertruck, we’d love to have it,” Gallacher said.
Anaheim police said these types of vehicles will help with community engagement and they hope have them in service on city streets in the next two weeks.
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