The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor sedan ranks among the best law enforcement vehicles ever built for North American police services.
They were large-and-in-charge vehicles sold from 1992-2011 and fit seamlessly into law enforcement work, particularly the fourth-generation Crown Victoria Police Interceptor models built from 1998 until 2011.
Jim Sutherland
A typical police car must be available 24/7 and 365 days of the year for the men and women who use them, so the vehicles must be durable and able to handle the mean streets within their jurisdiction. Additionally, the police vehicles must provide a comfortable work environment for the police officers who spend long shifts in them.
The Ford Crown Victoria was very well-suited for police work, especially when the Blue Oval team made models built strictly for hard service with law enforcement agencies. Crown Victoria police cars became a valuable tool for the many police officers that used them, most of whom became big fans of these legendary vehicles while on duty.
Ford continued to improve their Police Interceptor Crown Victoria models over the years, including their fourth (and final)-generation versions built from 1998 until 2011. These Crown Vics were the most powerful versions ever built, and arguably the best handling and safest versions of the iconic Ford police cars.
Unfortunately, time marches on, including in the automotive world where change is inevitable, so Ford discontinued its Ford Crown Victoria models after 2011 and forced most North American police services to switch to more modern vehicles based upon their Ford Explorer SUVs.
However, one law enforcement agency took a very unusual approach to the end of Crown Victoria Police Interceptor production in 2011 and bought 600 Crown Vics during their final manufacturing year. That customer was the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States.
The LASD was well-qualified to assess the Crown Victoria as a police vehicle, given the size of their police force coupled with the area of their jurisdiction which covers over 4000 square miles. Consequently, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department was willing to invest in a police car that was no longer in production after 2011 because of the Crown Victoria’s stellar track record with the LASD.
Their investment has paid off because over 400 of the 13-year-old police cars are still in active service with the LASD. It is an amazing testimony to the Crown Vic’s legacy as one of the best police vehicles ever built for service in a very tough working environment.
MyStarCollectorCar was able to connect with Sgt. David M Davis, a long-term veteran of the LA County Sheriff Department who is currently with their Fleet Management Unit. Sgt. Davis is very well-acquainted with Crown Vic police cars because he spent plenty of time behind the wheel of these vehicles.
In fact, he describes himself as a “Crown Vic guy”, based upon his many years of experience with the famous Ford police cars. However, Sgt. Davis added that “all good things must come to an end”, including the end of watch for the last LA County Sheriff Department Crown Victoria, an event he forecasts will happen within the next few years.
The issue at hand is a diminishing parts supply for the outdated Crown Vics. It is a grim reality that means the aging police vehicles will no longer meet the standards for law enforcement duty. Throw in Crown Vics that get “crashed out” in Sgt. Davis’s words, and it is clear the end is near for these crime-fighting legends on four wheels.
We will leave the final words to Sgt. Davis regarding the Crown Victoria police cars under his supervision at the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department:
Jim Sutherland
“Thanks for keeping the legend alive”.
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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