Police officers often have to deal with a lot of abuse from angry people just for doing their jobs. But there are some good things about being a police officer, especially in South Carolina’s Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The community action team (CAT) of the police force just got 17 brand-new Mustang GTs.
Many police departments only buy sensible four-door sedans and SUVs, which is what the department already has. However, Sheriff Leon Lott bought his CAT team a fleet of V8-powered 2024 Mustang GT fastbacks. He even asked for them without the standard light bar system on the roof and left the “5.0” badges on the bumpers alone.
A fleet of Ford Explorers, which Lott told The State would cost the same as the Mustangs, would be more useful than the two-door coupes in many ways. However, the pony cars have other strengths, and we’re not just talking about how fast their 480 hp (487 PS) V8s can go from 0 to 60 mph (97 kmh). Lott says he picked out the cars to help his police officers get along better with the people they serve.
“We don’t choose a car just because it’s cool to drive,” Lott told The State. “But cool cars do bring people to us and help us build relationships.” “These cars are hot.” People of all ages see them, like them, and then walk up to the car and start talking to the deputy.
Lott has already spent a lot of money on a line of cars that could make a lot of people in the area want to become police officers. After starting the CAT unit in 1998 to do more than just react to crimes, Lott ordered a few fourth-generation Camaros. He then switched to the Dodge Magnum and Challenger and bought another squad of Camaros when Chevy brought back the coupe in 2010.
The Camaro and Challenger are no longer made, so the S650 Mustang seemed like the best place for his department to put its money. However, pictures on the department’s Facebook page show that it still has at least one Camaro.
This year, police in North Carolina, which is across the state line, got their own army of 2024 Mustang GTs. The NC police cars stand out a little more than Lott’s because they are painted black with silver accents on the sides and tail.
