Everybody knows that police vehicles endure a hard life, and are called upon to handle a wide variety of jobs, from running after lawbreakers to idling for hours at a fixed assignment like crowd control. It ain’t easy being blue. That’s why law enforcement in the United States has increasingly embraced SUVs for use as a patrol vehicle. At Ford, the Explorer Police Interceptor is the current darling for this demanding marketplace. Chevrolet’s police portfolio has coalesced around the Tahoe, for which a police package has been offered since 1997. The boys and girls behind the badge are going to seriously enjoy its latest iteration, which, for 2021, adds independent suspension at all four corners with coil springs, robust anti-roll bars and a lowered ride height for working the mean streets.
The 2020 police Tahoe is offered in two versions: The Police Pursuit Vehicle equipment package that focuses on high-speed performance, and the Special Service Vehicle group that’s aimed more at off-road and towing capability. Regardless of package, the vehicle is powered by a 5.3-liter OHV V-8, now with rocker covers from the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that improve both crankcase ventilation and top-end lubrication during high-g lateral maneuvers that are commonplace in police work. A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard. Brakes? Officer Friendly now has six-piston Brembo calipers at every corner. Around here, the Florida Highway Patrol, Daytona Beach Police Department and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office are enthusiastic Tahoe customers. Don’t let one fill your rear-view mirror.
Jim Donnelly On Wheels 