While police vehicles are typically purpose-built machines for enforcing the law, sometimes police departments may seize vehicles and use them in various roles, from static event vehicles to high-speed pursuit cars, as evidenced by the Lambos in Dubai. Now, the Panama City Beach Police Department has seized a 2022 Corvette Stingray and integrated it into their operations.
Apprehended back in April 2023, this C8 Stingray had previously belonged to an individual who was eventually charged with felony transporting illegal narcotics, possessing firearms, and fleeing and eluding other law enforcement agencies. Rather than selling the Corvette off, the PCB department elected to repurpose the high-performance sports car into a symbol of justice and community engagement under the “Seized for Service” banner.
Thanks in large part to K9 Officer Rouge – who sniffed out the narcotics concealed in the C8 Stingray – this rebranded Vette will be featured in the PCB department’s “Cops and Kids” program, which serves as a tool for public relations and community outreach. Due to the nature of the Corvette’s history with the law, this initiative will help to remind others of the consequences of illegal narcotics possession and transportation.
Of course, with a Corvette Stingray in tow, the Panama City Beach Police Department now expects greater engagement in its community events.
As a reminder, the C8 Corvette Stingray is powered by the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine, which is rated at 490 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, or 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque with optional dual-mode performance exhaust system (RPO code NPP). An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission directs output to the rear wheels.
In regard to structure, all C8 Corvette variants ride on the GM Y2 platform, while production takes place exclusively at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
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Comments
What the police say – “Looks kids, we took this awesome Corvette away from a drug dealer with guns who ran from the cops!!”.
What kids hear – “Look kids, you get to drive an awesome Corvette when you deal drugs, carry guns, and run from the cops!!”
This is unconstitutional. Car must be sold to post against priors owners fines and restitution payments. While I agree the justice system should push him to financial ruin, it should be restitution to those affected, causing him to sell off all his assets. It’s not the justice system seizing all his property and saying “hey look at all my cool new toys!!!, and my new bonus!”
Stop fed theft
I can see the seizing of assets after a conviction, not because of an arrest. Numerous stories in the news about people allowing their vehicles to be searched while stopped figuring they had nothing to hide as they had not broken any law. To their surprise cash they had been carrying for vacations or to buy a car from a private party seized because the cop says it was for a drug deal. Costs spent on lawyers trying to get their money back are usually more than the cash taken, and the cops know this. A few years back while driving through rural South Carolina cops had set up a road block stopping every car, raising funds supposedly for medical expenses for some kid who fell off his bike and had a brain injury. How they can distinguish someone suffering from a brain injury and any other citizen of SC is a mystery. Imagine what would have happened a few miles down the road to anyone not contributing.
I can see it now, I go and get a few thousand out of the bank to go on a gambling trip in Biloxi, Ms. Get stopped for speeding , cop sees the money and thinks its for a drug deal, I get arrested, Escalade gets impounded never to be seen again. . Think it can’t happen? Think again.
I see lots of down-ticks for yours and other similar comments on here. Lots of badge polishers and boot lickers on line, I see.
Any guesses as to how much of the money seized actually makes it to the evidence locker? Same for confiscated (yet legally owned) firearms?
I’m sure this has happened many times, in many places. In my experience, around 1980 Waterloo, Iowa’s police chief had a confiscated Corvette decked out with all the light bars, antennas, and signs used at that time. Cool deal!
Think twice about dealing drugs and any illegal activity. You can’t drive while you’re in prison so you might as well donate your car to the police. Honest citizens don’t have to worry about their stuff being seized. Hurray for the police!
Growing up in Troy, Michigan. The police dept had gotten a few cars from drug raids. I still think about one to this day, it was a old Ford Hot Rod the police dept had. It was really good shape at the time and really neat seeing it being 12 years old. 30 years later I still wonder if the police dept ever sold it or what happened to it.
did they paint it or wrap it? if so stupid.