City of Lincoln Police Department History of LPD Vehicles

1930 Ford Model A

2007 Ford Crown Victoria

The Lincoln Police Department maintains a fleet over 250 vehicles. There are about 140 marked police cars, over 60 unmarked cars, and a number of support vehicles. The Department also operates 27 bicycles used for patrol functions. Each year, about 150,000 gallons of fuel are used to drive over 2,000,000 miles for all vehicles in our fleet.

Police patrol vehicles are purchased with additional features called a "police package". This includes heavier suspension, cooling system, alternator/wiring, and engine components. This increases the durability and longevity for vehicles used under adverse conditions. All new patrol vehicles come with both driver and front passenger air-bags.

Almost all patrol cars are assigned to more than one officer. Each officer must check the vehicle out prior to their shift and then return it to the Police Garage, or the Team Station at N. 27th & Holdrege if Center Team, upon conclusion of their duties. Officers carry a variety of both department issued, and personally owned equipment in their vehicles to assist them in their jobs.

During the late 1970's, 80's and 90's, several different light bar styles were used including the Jet-sonic and Jet-Stream which used alternating red and white rotating lights. In the early 90's, blue lights were also added to the light bars. In 1998 the department adopted the Federal Vista, which includes intersection clearing lights and strobe lights in addition to rotating halogen lamps. Several of the marked vehicles assigned to the Traffic Unit do not have roof mounted lightbars but are equipped with strobe lights in the front windshield and rear window area. The "slick top" traffic unit cruisers are equipped with the standard LPD decal package and are operated by uniformed officers.

Listed below, are the types of vehicles we used starting with 1930, the first year for official "Police cruisers". You may "click" on a highlighted year to see a photo of that vehicle.

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