Law Enforcement

Police Fleet Suffers Heat Damage

November 2, 2016
• by Staff

The Danville Police Department (Va.) accumulated $19,000 in repairs for patrol cars damaged by heat from April to September. These vehicles are often left running 24 hours a day due to long patrol shifts. Combined with the summer heat, the department dealt with air conditioning parts and batteries regularly melting or needing repair, reports the Danville Register & Bee.

To combat this issue, officers were advised to raise the hoods of their patrol vehicles while idling. But this drew criticism from citizens, who felt police were trying to hide the dashboard camera, and the practice was stopped.

The department has purchased hood louvers to help divert some of the heat.

Law Enforcement

A spokesman for the the Albuquerque (N.M.) Police Department said the new take-home policy may allow officers to use their vehicles while in the community coaching youth league teams or being involved in faith-based organizations.