Hello all,

With the future mods for GTA V which will enable the creation of real life vehicles to be brought into game being developed, I am posing several questions to the US community, in particular to those who live (or serve with) the Los Angeles Emergency services on a daily basis. 

1) What are the most common vehicles being used by the LAPD, LASD CHP, LAFD & EMS service and how does their infrastructure work? For example, does the LASD work with the LAPD in the same jurisdiction area, do each police forces have their own SWAT? I'm interested to know what vehicles are mostly used (therefore not particularly interested in the rare marked or unmarked vehicles). 

Eg. LAPD Response vehicles, K9 Units, SWAT etc. 

2)Is the Ford Taurus in active service with the LAPD (in particular because I really like the Taurus) and is it likely to join the CHP or LASD? I'm assuming that forces which use the Crown Vic will switch to the Taurus. 

3) Does the CHP only have the Ford Interceptor Utility on order because SUV's are considered unsuitable for pursuits?

The questions are somewhat generic but I wish to build myself a mental model of how GTA V will look with LA authorities being installed and Google provides limited answers, a community such as LSPD:FR with a wide global reach is much more effective. I come from the UK and therefore my exposure to US police forces is nonexistent other than through images and the very occasional video, both of which aren't enough to explain the US to me. I understand the structure of my police force but as you know that will be very different to the US (we're not so big on the firearms ideas or heavily armoured vehicles). 

Thank you very much for helping and taking time to answer. 

Regards

90% of the LAPD fleet is still Crown Vics, with some Ford Explorers, Ford Tauruses, and Dodge Chargers in the mix. The CHP fleet is now almost entirely Ford Explorers. There may be a few Crown Vics left, but they're getting rare. The LASD fleet is still mostly all Crown Vics, even more so than the LAPD. I personally have no idea about the LAFD or EMS service. 

may have to copy and paste the links

LAPD
http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/lapd.html
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=LAPD

LASD
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=LASD
http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/lasd

LAFD
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=LAFD

CHP
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=CHP
http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/chp/chp.html

LASD work with the LAPD in the same jurisdiction area, do each police forces have their own SWAT?  -yes
they also work with CHP

currently trying to test with the LAPD ( trying to figure out good times to fly cross country etc) 

Edited June 22, 201510 yr by K-9 police 9

Based on what I know. As OL has stated, 90% of LAPD's Vehicle fleet is still the CVPI. Though, they are slowly decommissioning the CVPI for the PI Sedan and the PI Utility.

As for the CHP, they have mentioned that they chose the Utility over the sedan because it's bigger and sturdier then the sedan.

Based on what I know. As OL has stated, 90% of LAPD's Vehicle fleet is still the CVPI. Though, they are slowly decommissioning the CVPI for the PI Sedan and the PI Utility.

As for the CHP, they have mentioned that they chose the Utility over the sedan because it's bigger and sturdier then the sedan.

Not sure why they said that. Both share the same frame/body and powertrain. It is larger and more spacious, but you'd think both are equally as durable since they share the same components. 

Edited June 22, 201510 yr by Original Light

It's probably heavier, which would make it good to perform pit manuevers and box people in.

Basically what OL stated. For the infrastructure, some areas of Los Angeles are patrolled by the Sheriff's Department, such as Compton. LAPD takes up most of the City area of Los Angeles. You can find the CHP roaming around everywhere if you look close enough. I know for the LAPD, slicktop Crown Victorias are common to see, too. I don't believe the Ford Taurus is in service with the LAPD as I have never seen one. Most of what I see consists of Crown Victorias and Dodge Chargers. You might get the rare Chevy Impala. From what I know, the LAPD is beginning to decommission the Ford Vics and are replacing them with shitbox Explorers and the new Chevy Caprices. LAPD and CHP also share the same Motorcycles as of most of their fleet being the Harley-Davidson Electra Glides, the LASD however is still with the BMW bikes. I'm not exactly sure where LASD is headed in terms of vehicles, from what I've seen, I come to imagine they're switching over to Dodge Chargers and Interceptor Sedans. Most of what I still see nowadays around my neighborhood consists of LAPD Vics and Chargers. As of for EMS and Fire, I have no clue. I know the LAFD is using those huge Dodge Ambulances now, but I'm not too sure about the rest.

Edited June 22, 201510 yr by OfficerLund

Found this just in time.

LA County and la city use different spec KME Predator severe service engines, as well as pierce engines, alf tillers, and a few seagraves left as pumps for lightforces/task forces

http://fire.kovatch.com/info/newswire/city-of-los-angeles-chooses-kme

 

Image :

private ambulances in la county use mainly ford e350s with leader boxes, la city uses a dodge cab with a road rescue i believe, it's been a little bit since i've gotten to hang out with those guys though. their hazmat and heavy rescue are both pierce. Any other questions pm me, I worked out there

Edited June 22, 201510 yr by 911ffemt

Basically what OL stated. For the infrastructure, some areas of Los Angeles are patrolled by the Sheriff's Department, such as Compton. LAPD takes up most of the City area of Los Angeles. You can find the CHP roaming around everywhere if you look close enough. I know for the LAPD, slicktop Crown Victorias are common to see, too. I don't believe the Ford Taurus is in service with the LAPD as I have never seen one. Most of what I see consists of Crown Victorias and Dodge Chargers. You might get the rare Chevy Impala. From what I know, the LAPD is beginning to decommission the Ford Vics and are replacing them with shitbox Explorers and the new Chevy Caprices. LAPD and CHP also share the same Motorcycles as of most of their fleet being the Harley-Davidson Electra Glides, the LASD however is still with the BMW bikes. I'm not exactly sure where LASD is headed in terms of vehicles, from what I've seen, I come to imagine they're switching over to Dodge Chargers and Interceptor Sedans. Most of what I still see nowadays around my neighborhood consists of LAPD Vics and Chargers. As of for EMS and Fire, I have no clue. I know the LAFD is using those huge Dodge Ambulances now, but I'm not too sure about the rest.

 I see, interesting to see that LAPD and LASD work together in some counties, is there any superiority one has over the other, like is the LASD called in when LAPD is struggling, is one more weaponised than the other? 

I like the LAPD Ford Crown vic, even the older ones with the halogen lightbars, so I'm quite happy about OL's 90% CVPI's statement. Is a K-9 unit the  Chevy Suburban or the Crown vic, because again I've seen both but I don't know which is newer. I've seen a few LAPD Taurus' photos, whether its the same one or not I'm unsure. I heard they were being trialled but obviously I don't know the result. I heard the Caprice's were being trailed as well, but again that was in 2013 so I have 0 knowledge of the result. Do the BMW R1200RT outnumber the Harleys for CHP and LAPD (I'm not a fan of the Harley Davidson bikes)? *Two articles* I read say that 38 Taurus' were ordered but the accuracy of that, and whether that was just a one off order or a commitment to buy any more to replace the CVPI's is unclear.

Apologies for the further questions... I'm quite curious 

http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/lapd607.jpg (Picture of LAPD PI/ Taurus (whatever its called)) 

* http://www.policemag.com/channel/vehicles/news/2013/06/14/lapd-purchases-nearly-200-dodge-ford-patrol-vehicles.aspx (States that 38 PI's were ordered & 50 Utilities [2013])* 

http://www.lamag.com/driver/story-behind-lapds-sexy-squad-cars/ (Article 2 [2014]) 

Not sure why they said that. Both share the same frame/body and powertrain. It is larger and more spacious, but you'd think both are equally as durable since they share the same components. 

I think it's mostly the "more spacious" aspect. The CHP requirement was that the vehicle had to be able to fit four fully-equipped officers with a full set of gear in the trunk; that's because the CHP needs to deploy officers in large numbers across the state. The payload capacity of the sedan is around 300 lbs. less than that of the SUV.

 

http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/lapd607.jpg (Picture of LAPD PI/ Taurus (whatever its called)) 

pcw pics dont work like that

 I see, interesting to see that LAPD and LASD work together in some counties, is there any superiority one has over the other, like is the LASD called in when LAPD is struggling, is one more weaponised than the other? 

I like the LAPD Ford Crown vic, even the older ones with the halogen lightbars, so I'm quite happy about OL's 90% CVPI's statement. Is a K-9 unit the  Chevy Suburban or the Crown vic, because again I've seen both but I don't know which is newer. I've seen a few LAPD Taurus' photos, whether its the same one or not I'm unsure. I heard they were being trialled but obviously I don't know the result. I heard the Caprice's were being trailed as well, but again that was in 2013 so I have 0 knowledge of the result. Do the BMW R1200RT outnumber the Harleys for CHP and LAPD (I'm not a fan of the Harley Davidson bikes)? *Two articles* I read say that 38 Taurus' were ordered but the accuracy of that, and whether that was just a one off order or a commitment to buy any more to replace the CVPI's is unclear.

Apologies for the further questions... I'm quite curious 

http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/capdcars/lapd607.jpg (Picture of LAPD PI/ Taurus (whatever its called)) 

* http://www.policemag.com/channel/vehicles/news/2013/06/14/lapd-purchases-nearly-200-dodge-ford-patrol-vehicles.aspx (States that 38 PI's were ordered & 50 Utilities [2013])* 

http://www.lamag.com/driver/story-behind-lapds-sexy-squad-cars/ (Article 2 [2014]) 

The LAPD and LASD work together in many cases. Usually when I see something like a house raid or whatnot, LAPD and LASD work together with their resources.

I believe for the K-9 units, it's either-or. Suburban might be for more high-priority situations.

CHP and LAPD are about at the same on Motorcycles, they both recently switched from the BMWs to the Electra Glides. For one, I prefer the EGs over the BMW. They also look damn nice!

The LAPD like to run their cars down the road as far as they can. I still occasionally see Vics with the old MX-7000 light bars on them. A couple years back, there was still a 1997 Crown Victoria in service with the LAPD. I'm sure we'll still see plenty of Vics for the next years to come. LAPD and LASD.

Not sure why they said that. Both share the same frame/body and powertrain. It is larger and more spacious, but you'd think both are equally as durable since they share the same components. 

What a CHP officer told me when I spoke to him when I was in SF was that the Sedan wasn't practical for them. He mentioned that they felt the Sedan was small. Also because they feel they need a bigger vehicle to stop suspects in bigger vehicles in some pursuits.

When ford announced it would cease to produce the crownvic (and entire panther platform), LAPD was one of the few agencies to place orders for thousands of them as well as buy up any remaining vehicles. They said they have the support structure for them and don't want to switch. Basically they have crownvics for over a decade into the future now.

 

 

Edited July 1, 201510 yr by sgtdonuts