Have you noticed that sometimes police officers drive normal squad cars while other times they’re in SUVs or pickup trucks? There are a few reasons why some police officers drive trucks, and in this guide, you’ll learn some of the primary motivations for this. Read on ahead.
Extra Storage Space
Police officers use many different tools to perform their daily activities, which is why they need to follow the right tips for making a patrol vehicle more organized. Trucks give police officers much more cargo space to carry extra gear with them or tools that they don’t use very often.
One such example are cages for transporting wild animals. Other times, officers use the additional cargo space to transport other officers to a crime scene or to hold people in custody. Whatever the case may be, police officers can store much more cargo in a truck than in a standard squad car.
Off-Roading
Depending on the nearby terrain in a police station’s jurisdiction, there may be instances where officers will have to drive off road. In this case, using a truck instead of a squad car makes much more sense, as trucks have better handling than cars when driven off the beaten path.
Officers will use a truck to patrol environments such as beaches, forests, mountains, and flooded areas to keep people safe. Using proper equipment lets police officers handle any situation, so if they have to drive outside of an urban environment, a truck would be the perfect vehicle for the task.
Towing
Law enforcement officers often have to tow large objects out of an area or haul them to a certain location. For example, when they need to block off a road, police officers have to bring roadblocks and cones that may be too large to carry in a squad car.
Also, police officers can use a truck to tow a car if someone is parked in an illegal area. Additionally, removing debris from a crime scene is much easier when officers can tow it, so a truck is more suitable in these instances.
Overall, police trucks are quite practical and versatile for any form of law enforcement activity. Now that you know the reasons why some police officers drive trucks, you don’t have to ask an officer the next time you see them drive by.