As one of the premier law enforcement departments in the country, the Los Angeles police department possesses the top-of-the-line in transportation machinery and equipment. To effectively patrol the almost 500 square miles comprising the city of Los Angeles, the department utilizes a variety of vehicles; sedans, motorcycles, and helicopters.
In the first vehicle category, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the automobile of choice for patrol. It is the only vehicle, which, according to department policy, is allowed to engage in a vehicle pursuit. The cars are black with the roof, doors, and pillars painted white, a color combination in use since around 1940. Available options include handlebar lamps, large steel wheels, and front door ballistic panels.
Moving on to vehicles with two wheels, Kawasaki Police motorcycles are the most numerous in the motor pool, along with some Harley-Davidsons and BMWs. The cycles are also painted black and white, and hold a radio, radio equipment, a shotgun and paperwork used by officers. During rainfall, motorcycles are stored away and sedans are exclusively utilized for patrol.
In the airborne vehicle variety, the Los Angeles police department maintains a very large airforce, containing 21 helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft.
In non-motorized vehicles, bicycles are extensively utilized as transportation equipment by the LAPD. Cycle units are primarily used during special events to provide fast and easy police assistance. The units may patrol a ten to twenty-five miles area during any given event. Giant is the maker of the bicycles used by the department.
Lastly, there is also an equestrian unit comprised of about 35 police horses. Usually utilized during special events, specially trained patrolmen ride the horses to maintain crowd control. Though horses cannot be viewed as vehicles in the traditional sense, they do effectively convey officers to various points in a given beat.
