The Pennsylvania State Police is upgrading their vehicle fleet, adding new Chevy Tahoe PPVs (Police Pursuit Vehicles) as a replacement for aging Ford and Dodge SUVs. The current fleet is predominantly made up of Dodge Durangos and Ford Police Interceptors, with over 1,500 marked and unmarked vehicles in service. The first units will be on the road in Bedford County before making their way across the state.
According to a report from KDKA CBS News Pittsburgh, the Chevy Tahoe PPV was selected for its impressive performance and durability, with a capability of reaching speeds of up to 134 miles per hour, making it well-suited for high-speed pursuits. The new Chevy Tahoe PPV was also praised for handling prolonged idling, which was seen as crucial during shifts where the engine can often remain left to run for extended periods. Another practical benefit highlighted by officers is the improved ease of buckling seat belts, as officers’ service weapons can often obstruct the buckle.
“My favorite feature is we should be able to buckle our seat belts comfortable because there is not a lot of room in most vehicles,” says Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Officer Steve Limani. “When you have a gun belt on, something as benign as putting your seat belt on, but man, if you’re a right-hander, your hand gun is sitting right there where that seat belt is.”
Pennsylvania State Police plan to roll out 160 marked Chevy Tahoe PPV units and 60 unmarked Chevy Tahoe PPV units in the next several weeks as part of a police fleet modernization effort. It’s expected that every police barracks across the state will have at least one new Chevy Tahoe PPV in its fleet.
Among the upgrades applied to Chevy Tahoe PPV units are an upgraded suspension and a lower ride height, as well as a unique set of black wheels fitted with Firehawk Pursuit all-season tires.
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