Automobile and the Police

It is difficult to separate the institution of policing from the tools and technology officers use to accomplish their assigned tasks. Just the term police officer conjures a mental image of a person in a particular type of uniform with predictable markings and equipment. For over 100 years, this constellation of police symbols has also included the distinct automobiles that they use. Variously called “squad cars,” “patrol cars,” “prowl cars,” “marked units,” or “black-and-whites,” these vehicles are an important part of police ...