The Rosenburg Police Department in Texas has sparked discussion about the possibility of replacing its aging patrol vehicles with Tesla’s Cybertruck this year. In a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the department openly questioned whether the Cybertruck would make a suitable police vehicle, highlighting the challenges of finding new units to refresh their existing fleet.
Tagging Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, in their post, the Rosenburg Police received a succinct response from Musk in the form of an emoji, indicating a positive affirmation.
Although the Cybertruck was teased more than four years ago, deliveries only commenced about a month ago, with full-scale production expected to begin in early 2024. If the Rosenburg Police or any other department decides to integrate the Cybertruck into their fleet, it would not be the first instance of a Tesla vehicle being used in law enforcement.
Several police units have already incorporated Tesla’s electric cars, predominantly the Model Y, into their fleets. In May 2023, the South Pasadena police department in California made headlines by transitioning its entire fleet to Tesla’s Model Y cars, with plans to include Model 3s as well.
The interest in Tesla’s Cybertruck for police use goes beyond novelty. Larry Ellison, founder and former Tesla board member, referred to the Cybertruck as the “next-generation police vehicle” during a keynote address at Oracle’s CloudWorld 2023 conference. Ellison emphasized its safety, speed, and bulletproof stainless steel exoskeleton as ideal features for law enforcement.
Tesla investor Jeremy Noel Johnson echoed these sentiments in a December post on TorqueNews, asserting that the Cybertruck could be the “ultimate police car.” Johnson highlighted its advantageous features for policing, including advanced technology for tight turns, impressive towing capabilities, and additional protection features like “invincible” bumpers and side panels.
Notably, police departments using Tesla squad cars have reported significant cost savings. The Somerset, Wisconsin police department projected savings of $80,000 over a 10-year duty cycle for a Tesla Model Y. Chief Joel J. Trepczyk emphasized the growing popularity of electric vehicles among law enforcement agencies, citing advantages such as the absence of oil changes, regenerative braking, and overall cost-effectiveness.
