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Texans Roast Police Department’s New “Garbage Can” Cybertruck

  • Cybertruck donated to Kemah police by Enterprise Leasing.
  • Officers will test if it works for daily patrol operations.
  • Some Texans doubt the Cybertruck’s battery can keep up.

Authorities in Kemah, a small city just southeast of Houston, will soon be cruising the streets in an American-made pickup truck, though it’s not the kind most Texans are used to seeing.

Rather than another lifted, gas-hungry behemoth, the Kemah Police Department has added a Tesla Cybertruck to its fleet. The move didn’t exactly spark hometown pride. Judging by the comments on the department’s Facebook post, locals are having a field day with the decision.

Read: Vegas Cops Just Got 10 Cybertrucks And Elon Had Nothing To Do With It

A growing number of police forces across the United States have started to add Cybertrucks to their fleets. Just a couple of months ago, police in Texas took delivery of ten highly-modified Cybertruck police cruisers built by Unplugged Performance.

A Different Kind of Cop Car

 Texans Roast Police Department’s New “Garbage Can” Cybertruck
Kemah PD

By comparison, the Cybertruck delivered to cops in Kemah looks completely standard, except for the police livery. They say that the truck was donated by Enterprise Leasing and that it will be used for testing to see if the Tesla works as a patrol vehicle.

Importantly, the police say they didn’t spend any taxpayer money on the acquisition. That hasn’t stopped residents from weighing in, many of them voicing strong opinions in the comments section of the department’s Facebook post.

What Do Texans Think?

“Lmaooo imagine the battery dying tryna chase someone,” wrote one commentor, while another posted “Y’all ain’t catching anyone in that.” There’s no word on what specify Cybertruck variant this is, but even if it’s the base model, we’re willing to bet it could easily be used to catch most motorists in Texas.

 Texans Roast Police Department’s New “Garbage Can” Cybertruck
Kemah PD

One Facebook user left this gem of a comment: “Hey guys, if anyone’s missing their refrigerator I found it, it’s having an identity crisis and is now trying to identify as a cop car.” Another wrote, “Flood waters, here we don’t come!”

One comment summed up the skepticism in classic internet style: “If that thing is chasing me, ain’t no way I’m stopping for a garbage can.”

Whether or not the Cybertruck proves practical for police work in Texas remains to be seen. The vehicle does offer notable performance and strong safety credentials, both potentially valuable in patrol scenarios. The biggest question may be around charging logistics, especially for a force built around the consistency and familiarity of combustion engines.

 Texans Roast Police Department’s New “Garbage Can” Cybertruck
Kemah PD

Vegas Cops Just Got 10 Cybertrucks And Elon Had Nothing To Do With It

  • Las Vegas police just added ten Tesla Cybertrucks to their fleet.
  • Billionaire Ben Horowitz donated all of the modified Cybertrucks.
  • Department expects the trucks to save tens of thousands yearly.

If you spend any time in Las Vegas, whether as a resident or a visitor, don’t be surprised if you see a Cybertruck in police livery gliding down the Strip. These aren’t movie props or promotional gimmicks, they’re among the first Tesla Cybertruck police vehicles to enter active duty in the United States.

The trucks have been overhauled by Unplugged Performance and delivered to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), where they’ve been adapted for duty in one of America’s busiest cities.

Who’s Picking Up the Bill?

One of the first questions that might come to mind when you hear about these Cybertrucks is, “Who’s paying for them?” Fortunately, it isn’t the taxpayer.

According to the LVMPD, all ten of the electric pickups were donated by Ben Horowitz and his wife. Horowitz, a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist, is believed to be a billionaire and apparently a believer in electrified law enforcement.

Also: Cybertruck’s Light Bar Has Joined The Long List Of Things Falling Off Teslas

As for the Cybertrucks, each one comes equipped with a full suite of electronics required by the police department, including lights, sirens, and a PA system.

They also feature a series of upgrades to toughen up their looks and boost their off-roading credentials. For example, they’ve been fitted with new push bars, reinforced rock sliders, upgraded suspension components, and stronger brakes.

 Vegas Cops Just Got 10 Cybertrucks And Elon Had Nothing To Do With It

Counting the Savings

The LVMPD says these electric patrol trucks aren’t just about image, as they’re expected to save money too. The department estimates each Tesla Cybertruck will deliver a minimum of $47,540 in savings over its five-year service life compared with a traditional gasoline-powered police truck.

That includes annual fuel savings between $8,800 and $12,000, plus roughly $3,540 in reduced maintenance. Unless something falls off, that is. Whether those projections hold up once the trucks hit full duty remains to be seen.

Read: Las Vegas Gets First Cybertruck Police Fleet In America

“They will be at every area command… the trucks are high performance and built tough to handle everything from Fremont Street to Redrock Canyon,” LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. “[The Cybertrucks are] practical, powerful and designed to make our job that much safer.”

Not only that, but the department claims it’s already seeing an uptick in recruitment thanks to the Cybertrucks. Apparently, nothing inspires future officers quite like a stainless-steel wedge these days.

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