California cops splurge on Tesla patrol cars — but here's why they're not impressed

A fleet of Californian cops in Ukiah splurged some cash on patrol cars that included Tesla Model 3 EVs, however, they weren’t impressed.

After trying the crime-busting cars out, they proved less of a help and more of a hindrance.

But why was this the case?

Well, let’s see, shall we?

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Cop cars come in all shapes and sizes

Police forces need cars with speed and space, so it’s no wonder that different forces have different vehicles.

For example, the Miami Beach Police Department uses a Rolls-Royce Ghost as a cop car.

Plus, an Alaskan force recently added Dodge Durangos to its fleet of cars.

But this police department was left less than impressed at its use of EVs to fight crime.

Ukiah police department added Teslas to fleet

In August 2024, the Ukiah Police Department bought some Tesla Model 3s to join the lineup of patrol cars, ready to fight crime.

Chief Cedric Crook of the department wasn’t all that impressed with the design of the car.

The officers’ uniform, consisting of a duty belt, meant that entering and exiting the car was a task, plus only one criminal could be carried in the rear of the cabin.

Let’s face it, using more than one cop car in a single batch of arrests is less than ideal.

Alongside this, having to charge cars with prisoner cargo wasn’t a practical solution for the force, so instead of being used on the front line, they’ll instead be used for staff.

Another department also agreed with Tesla being impractical

Menlo Park Police Department also agreed that a Tesla wasn’t a good fit for cops.

Chief David Norris explained how, after having some Model Ys modified, some cops found that the interior features weren’t up to scratch, such as Autopilot, and the limited off-road usage wasn’t helpful either.

Plus, space was at a deficit thanks to the partition.

One company that makes it all possible for the Model 3s to be transformed is called Upfit, with the recommended upgrades including ‘Enhanced Exterior Protection, window tint, and exterior window guard for breakage protection’.

Chief Cook told SF Gate that the cost was almost $150,000, as features such as a radio and partition were needed to make the vehicles practical enough for everyday tasks on the force.

Due to a 2020 bill that was passed, gas and diesel cars are banned from being sold by 2035 in California, which means classic cop cars will need to be green.

Modifying better-suited vehicles, such as the F-150 at the Fort Bragg Police Department, could be the way forward.

Only time will tell.

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