Police replace vehicles with new model, new look
You may have noticed that there are some brand new UW Police Department vehicles traveling around campus. The department is adding seven new 2013 Ford Police Interceptor SUVs to its fleet to replace some of its older vehicles.
The UW Police Department has replaced some of its older vehicles with new Ford Police Interceptors, equipped with all-wheel drive, “extreme officer protection,” and built for full pursuit.
Ford designed the Interceptors to fit the needs of law enforcement agencies. They feature all-wheel drive, which is obviously beneficial during periods of inclement weather, and they are equipped with what Ford refers to as Extreme Officer Protection. According to the manufacturer, the Interceptors are built for full pursuit.
Gas mileage in the new vehicles will increase about 150 percent over current squads and the overall length is several inches shorter, according to UWPD.
The most noticeable changes may be the color and the new logo on the vehicles. The new Interceptors are black and the graphics are designed to complement their color. Several designs were submitted to Chief Sue Riseling and she approved a couple of different packages. Department members helped select the new graphics by voting for the one they liked the most.
The winning graphic design for the new UWPD squads features the department’s badge.
Detective Marshall Ogren submitted the winning design, which was similar to that used by the University of Washington Police Department. He wanted to include something unique and extra. He suggested adding a graphic of his department’s badge to the new vehicles.
“I wanted to add it as a tribute to show that we are UW–Madison,” says Ogren.
In 2010 Ford announced that it would be discontinuing the popular Crown Victoria sedan in 2011. Many police departments across the country depended on the reliable “Crown Vics” for many years. UWPD’s new vehicles are purchased and owned by the UW Fleet and the department is leasing them.