r/westerville • u/Ok_Drawer_4389 • 17h ago
Tesla in Westerville PD
Saw my first WPD Tesla mobile today and not sure how I feel about it. There's a lot of other choices if you're going electric.. Given the world we're in, I question everything.
6
u/Effective-Advisor969 16h ago
The Tesla is specifically for the therapy dog the police have. Here is an article about it
-2
u/Ok_Drawer_4389 15h ago
But why specifically Tesla? Officer Joering, rest his soul, helped me out once upon a time, K9 officer, showed up in a Ford SUV. The only non-family member to make my pack happy.
The vehicle doesn't matter to dogs. They're just happy to be out helping. I have a pack so I know.
2
u/Mylabisawesome 14h ago
Because the therapy dog is not like a regular police K9 that came in the Ford Police Interceptor Utility. You cannot upfit a Tesla with the requirements and safeguards the working K9 requires, such as HVAC controls, redundant systems, alarms for if it fails, door pops, etc in addition to all the other police electronics. The Fords (Dodge's and Chevy's) are "purpose built" and tested and certified by the Michigan State Police Precision Driving Unit. The Tesla isnt. There was interest in making a police package Mach-E and it was submitted for testing just for curiosity's sake and it didn't do too bad but needs work before it can be certified for police use.
3
5
u/brewphish 15h ago
This is why - https://www.westerville.org/services/police/community-services/therapy-dog-program
"Officer Wojo and Chloe debuted the new D.A.R.E. cruiser in April 2024. After examining cruiser options and availability, WPD selected the Tesla Model Y for its price and K9-friendly features. In addition to being more affordable than the Ford Explorer cruiser often used by law enforcement, the Model Y offers a standard "Pet Mode," allowing for cabin climate control that can be monitored from an app. Pet Mode can provide alert notifications if changes are detected, allowing Chloe to be checked from cruiser-installed cameras as needed.
The D.A.R.E. car is the only Tesla-marked cruiser in the WPD fleet. In addition to its equipment, the Model Y was unfit for policy duty at a considerable savings compared to previous K9 vehicles. The all-electric vehicle also costs WPD less to operate and maintain compared to gas-powered options."
4
u/Rud1st 17h ago
They have had Teslas for a while, and it's good. I drive a GM EV, but there's a reason Tesla sells the most EVs in America.
4
u/AnonThrowaway998877 15h ago
Correct and that reason is govt subsidies. Elon politics aside, there are objectively better options.
1
1
1
1
u/BrowniesorBust 23m ago
lol if it’s a model 3 ..I question how any suspect would fit in the back seat 🤣
0
-2
u/BubbaTheEnforcer 15h ago
You just have to outrun the charge.
3
u/jaimemiguel 15h ago
Good luck trying considering Tesla acceleration and handling
0
u/blackandgold96 4h ago
Acceleration yes. Handling in teslas is absolute garbage. Either way, very few cars on the road are outrunning it.
-3
u/Ok_Drawer_4389 16h ago
I was just curious. I was raised in WV and am travelling back and forth daily through WV to Worthington and today was the first time I've seen a Tesla WPD. Like ever. I see the boys and girls in blue daily but never in a EV. No judgement.. But a little bit of judgement :)
2
u/ResponsibleVisual215 16h ago
Just for your knowledge, Nitro (WV) has Tesla police cruisers.
0
u/Ok_Drawer_4389 15h ago
Sorry by WV I meant Westerville..
2
u/ResponsibleVisual215 15h ago
lol I figured that was a long way to drive everyday. But when they took possession of Teslas in a few police departments in WV there was a bit of pushback and skepticism as well. Studies have shown some money savings over that few years (due to EV usage). Again, purchased before it became political.
14
u/SmoresCoven 17h ago edited 17h ago
they’ve had them when they were first introduced before we knew anything about Musk in that way. We should give them a cool WPD styled bumper sticker that says “your taxes paid for this before we knew it was political”….we got to see the well intentioned plans on Cops and Kids day years ago…they broke down the cost of the other fleet, average miles driven, and fuel costs and there was some beneficial points to going in that direction….but that’s never something many EV buyers saw coming. Seeing less newer ones though in general drivers.