Crime doesn't pay, but perpetrators seem to go to greater lengths—at a faster pace, no less—to prove otherwise. That makes it tougher for enforcers to live up to their mandate to serve and protect. But a few forces are stepping it up a tad, such as sheriffs in Florida's Marion County who converted a confiscated Challenger into a high-speed cruiser. Ditto for automakers like Ford, which recently rolled out an F-150 police responder that can hit speeds of 150 mph. Recently, officers in the village of Miami Shores in Florida have taken possession of a super high-tech SUV built by Chevrolet and dubbed the Tahoe K-9 Unit featured in a YouTube video that rolled out Tuesday.
A V8 Plus Bells And Whistles
This 2018 Chevy Tahoe has a lot of bells and whistles—and that's no cliche—to patrol its part of Dade County. Having a V8 in this unit is impressive, especially with the ability to switch to four cylinders when patrolling at low speeds or at a stoplight. It's also armed with an optic infrared camera with night-vision capabilities, a multiple antenna array for locating stolen vehicles, a sophisticated signalling system for running the vehicle's LED lights, and an onboard computer and navigation system. Since this vehicle is a K-9 unit, there's a compartment to house the department's four-pawed enforcers.
Stored behind the rear hatch are all the tools that a patrolling officer needs while on duty, including flares, caution tape and a first-aid kit for both humans and dogs. There's also a panel of additional electronics that officers call the brains of the entire K-9 vehicle. It features processing units for external radio communications, converters, and climate control features for the canine.
Automobile Tag Readers and Infrared Cameras Included
Additional systems are also capable of picking up license tag information on every car in the area. That information is fed to each patrol unit via 30 tag readers set up on light standards and resembling traffic cameras and cover every entrance and exit of Miami Shores.
One tactical advantage that the Tahoe enjoys is the infrared camera which can provide police with information in total darkness. Any criminal lurking in nearby bushes otherwise invisible to enforcers is easily picked up by the camera via body heat emitting from the person of interest.
One Heck Of A Light Show
Additionally, all those LED lights on the Tahoe aren't strictly for show, although they would come in handy during the Yuletide season. It's all part of a tactical take-down procedure once they find a suspect. In that situation, the Tahoe's headlights are designed to blind a suspect temporarily so that an officer approaching on foot can't be detected.
With all these high-tech enforcement aids at the disposal to Miami Shores officer, it's safe to say that this K-9 unit isn't just for the dogs.
Source: Off-Duty Nick