2015 LA Sheriff's Department Vehicle Evaluation Results

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department began evaluating vehicles for law enforcement back in 1974. Over these many years - and many miles - the department added an evaluation to better represent the effect city driving has on the newest patrol vehicles and "is designed to simulate the conditions encountered by most officers working in typical urban communities." 

Intent on only presenting manufacturers and like-minded law enforcement agencies unbiased and useful data, like other police evaluations they aren't making recommendations. "[The LA County Sheriff's] testing process is designed to address the law enforcement officers operational requirements in terms of vehicle performance, vehicle safety, and comfort."

Full details on the program, current evaluations, and previous results can be found at the LA County Sheriff's program's website at shq.lasdnews.net/shq/vehicle_testing.

Now it the 40th year, the Law Enforcement Vehicle Test and Evaluation Program for Model Year 2015 included evaluations on a 32-lap high speed, pursuit course, brake, acceleration, heat, communications, ergonomics, and fuel efficiency.

Vehicles Included

The testing was performed mid-October 2014 at the AutoClub Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The submitted vehicles had to be for the 2015 models and include the following:

• Ford Police Interceptor (FWD and AWD)
• Ford Police Interceptor with EcoBoost
• Ford Police Interceptor Utility AWD
• Ford Police Interceptor Utility with EcoBoost
• Chevrolet Impala Limited
• Chevrolet Tahoe PPV (2WD and 4WD)
• Chevrolet Caprice (V-6 and V-8)
• Dodge Charger (V-6 2.62 and V-6 3.07)
• Dodge Charger (V-8 RWD and V-8 AWD)

Evaluation Top Results

32-Lap High Speed Vehicle Dynamics - Quickest average time:

• Ford Police Interceptor with EcoBoost at 1:21.8 minutes

Pursuit Course - Quickest average time: 

• Ford Police Interceptor with EcoBoost at 4:16.8 minutes

Braking - Shortest stopping distance (60 MPH to 0):

• Dodge Charger (V-6 2.62) at 133.3 feet

Acceleration (0 to 60 MPH): 

• Ford Police Interceptor with EcoBoost at 5.9 seconds

It's very easily seen the Interceptor's EcoBoost has quite an effect on police work behind the wheel. From the vehicle's description, "EcoBoost brings municipalities and police fleet administrators the first ultra high-performance, yet environmentally friendly, police pursuit vehicle. Offering performance that bests normally aspirated V-8 powered police cruisers and comparable fuel economy and CO2 emissions to the standard V-6, EcoBoost represents a triple-win for police departments, the tax-paying constituents they serve and the environment they help collectively to preserve.

A high-capacity six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission delivers the power of EcoBoost to the road via the sophisticated torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system."

It's also interesting to see the 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit taking home the Shortest Brake Distance. According to the vehicles description, "with input from law enforcement officials and Dodge brand’s 22 member Police Advisory Board, the 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit continues to add improvements to meet the high expectations and performance needs of the heroes who protect us. Continued improvements for 2015 include ... larger 14.5-in. front and 13.8-in. rear pursuit-rated brake package now standard for increased performance."

Each manufacturer increases safety year over year, and if these numbers are any indication it's clear patrol and pursuit-rated vehicles are only getting better.

Editor's Note: While various motorcycle brands and models may have been evaluated in the LA County Sheriff's Department Police Vehicle Test and Evaluation program, the results were not included in the 2015 Vehicle Test Book at the time of downloading.