Cops are getting a new pickup truck.
Ford has done a makeover of its F-150 pickup aimed at use by police agencies. It's not meant for pursuits -- chasing down criminal suspects -- but it does have a lot of special touches for police that use them from tasks that range from K-9 officers to toting around traffic cones.
It's called the F-150 Special Service Vehicle and it gives fleets a selection of configurations so customers can pick what best suits their needs. Agencies get a choice of SuperCrew or SuperCab interiors, four-or two-wheel drive and a 5-liter V-8 engine or a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine.
The truck will have some of the heavy-duty equipment that makes patrol cars stand apart, like a 240-amp alternator. There's also vinyl flooring instead of carpeting. Even though it can't be used in chases, it can make a mighty fine patrol unit. There's space in the cab for police equipment like dispatch computers, and the space in the back of the cab can be converted into a kennel for police dogs.
It joins Ford's other police vehicles, like the Taurus sedan and Explorer SUV.
