South Carolina Gets 17 New Ford Mustang Police Cars
The Richland County Sheriff's Department's Community Action Team has added 17 new Ford Mustang GTs to its fleet.
Unveiled by Sheriff Leon Lott on July 1, these vehicles aim to foster community engagement and build relationships. The department emphasizes the cars are about attracting people to interact with officers and enhancing community bonds.
Historically, the CAT unit, established by Lott in 1998, has utilized various muscle cars, starting with Chevrolet Camaros, then Dodge Magnums and Challengers, before returning to the Camaro until its recent discontinuation. With both the Camaro and Challenger now out of production, the Mustang was the only real choice left.
The Mustangs wear a traditional Sheriff's livery but lack traditional patrol car light bars, push bars, and retain stock wheels and badging to maintain a civilian-friendly appearance. The CAT unit comprises 15 officers, each assigned to a specific neighborhood within Richland County, including Columbia, S.C. Beyond responding to crimes, these deputies address various community issues and maintain direct contact with residents by providing their personal cell phone numbers and interacting with residents in low-stress situations.
Lott noted that the cost of these Mustangs is comparable to standard police vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe or Ford Explorer, despite their less practical two-door design.
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
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