Vegas Cops Go Cyber-Crazy
Image Credit: Lexipol.
Vegas just got a whole lot weirder, and I mean weird in the best possible, "did-I-just-see-that?" kind of way. Turns out, the boys in blue over at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have decided that what their fleet was missing was, a fleet of shiny, stainless steel cheese wedges on wheels. Yes, I'm talking about the Tesla Cybertruck. Ten of them, to be exact. And get this – they got 'em for free!
A Cybertruck? For cops? I had the same thought, and then I pictured a high-speed chase down the Strip with a Cybertruck bouncing over curbs and, frankly, I started to giggle. It might sound like a scene from a low-budget sci-fi flick, but it's happening. Apparently, an anonymous benefactor, probably someone who lost a bet and had to pay up in electric trucks, decided to shower the LVMPD with these futuristic beasts.
Image Credit: Lexipol.
Cybertruck is a vehicle that, in its civilian form, already packs a mighty punch. It has a battery that can, in theory, go for hundreds of miles, though I suspect with all the police gear and high-speed chases, those numbers will drop faster than a slot machine jackpot. The Cybertruck's dimensions are substantial - we're talking about a vehicle that's nearly 19 feet long and over 6 feet wide. That's a lot of stainless steel to maneuver in a crowded city.
The SWAT version steals the show. Imagine a Cybertruck painted in a desert camo that looks like it was done with a spray can, riding on massive, knobbly tires. Tires that could probably climb a small mountain. And, of course, armored doors and windows. Vegas, baby! This thing is just brilliant. I mean, if you're going to go over the top, you might as well go all the way, right?
Image Credit: Lexipol.
The standard police cruiser versions are a bit more subdued, if you can call a giant, stainless steel wedge "subdued." They've got the obligatory flashing lights, custom wheels, and spotlights, so they can blind miscreants from a mile away. It's a rolling disco, but for law enforcement.
As for the performance side of business, these things can reportedly hit 60 mph in under 3 seconds. That's faster than most sports cars, and definitely faster than any getaway vehicle a petty thief in Vegas is likely to be driving. So, if you're thinking of making a run for it, you might want to reconsider.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill is talking about how these Cybertrucks are going to be a "tremendous recruitment tool" and an "opportunity to inject humanity." Right. Because nothing says "humanity" like a giant, angular, electric truck. I can just picture the officers charging these things up, surrounded by tourists snapping photos and asking, "Is that the new Batmobile?"
The cost of these things? Well, that's a bit of a mystery, given they were donated. But let's be real, a fully kitted-out Cybertruck, especially one with all the SWAT trimmings, is not going to be cheap. We're talking well, well over $100,000 a pop, maybe more. But this is Vegas. Everything's bigger, brighter, and more expensive.
You've got to wonder how practical these things are going to be. Parking a Cybertruck in a crowded city is going to be like trying to park a small tank. And maintenance? Oh boy, I can just imagine the mechanics scratching their heads, trying to figure out how to fix a dented stainless steel panel.
Next time you're in Sin City, you might just see a Cybertruck pulling someone over, or maybe even chasing a runaway Elvis impersonator. It's going to be one heck of a sight. The way I see it - if this giant brick helps the police catch a few bad guys, then all the better. Kudos to the LVMPD for embracing the future, or at least, a very shiny, very electric version of it.
