New OSP Charger Patrol Cars Hit Freeways Next Week

The Charger name goes back to the mid-60's, when Dodge and the other American manufacturers entered the 'muscle car era.'

The new Oregon State Police Charger Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(ALBANY) - Starting next week, Oregon State Police Troopers will begin patrolling Interstate 5 and local highways in the Albany area with a newly introduced 2006 Dodge Charger.

The Oregon State Police Patrol Services Division recently purchased forty-five 2006 Dodge Chargers for patrolling Oregon highways.

Forty-three new Dodge Chargers will be marked in the familiar "OSP Blue" body color with bright yellow graphics, door star emblems, and overhead light bars.

Two vehicles will be equipped unmarked patrol vehicles as part of the Department's Aggressive Driving Plan program.

"The patrol car is our troopers ‘office' from which they work under extreme and dangerous conditions," said Captain Gerry Gregg, Director of the OSP Patrol Services Division. "The Dodge Charger is one of the wide range of different makes and models the Department uses for providing public safety services in emergency and non-emergent situations, and are specially equipped ‘police package' vehicles to meet specific needs for our trooper's safety and patrol-related needs."

Production of the police packaged 2006 Dodge Charger was begun in the fourth quarter of 2005 and recently made available for delivery to police departments around the country. Since 1978, police departments have looked to the Michigan State Police Patrol Vehicle Evaluation Program for on-road testing of a variety of vehicles used by law enforcement to evaluate acceleration, top speed, braking and vehicle dynamics.

"The performance evaluation results were very encouraging and the timing of Dodge Charger's availability occurred when our Department needed to order future replacements for aging patrol cars," Captain Gregg said.

Some of the 2006 Dodge Charger features include:

* 5.7-liter (345 cubic inch) HEMI Multi-Displacement V8 Engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. Michigan State Police testing indicated the vehicle is capable of going 0-60 in 6.44 seconds, 0-100 in slightly over 16 seconds, and posted a best-in-class top speed of over 145-mph.

* A Multi-Displacement System that at cruising speed shuts the system down to 4 of the eight cylinders for increased fuel economy. Estimated EPA fuel economy is 17-mpg City and 25-mpg Highway.

* All-Speed Traction Control, Electronic Stability Control, and a 4-wheel ABS braking system to match the vehicles acceleration performance.

* Passive and active safety features, including front and side curtain airbags, for OSP troopers and transported individuals.

Prior to hitting the road, the OSP Fleet Services Section installs all other safety, communication, and warning devices including:

* Prisoner partitions.

* Emergency lighting system and siren.

* Radio communications equipment.

* Rear plastics prisoner transportation seats using factory installed safety belts.

* Radar and in-car video systems.

Once fully equipped to hit Oregon's highways, the 2006 Dodge Charger each cost $30,600. The 2006 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor each cost $29,600.

"There is a limited group of vehicles made by manufacturers that fall into the ‘police package' category," said Captain Gregg. "Our decision was made keeping in mind research facts, public safety needs, and fiscal responsibility."

Since 1931, the Oregon State Police have used many different types of vehicles to patrol our state highways. From the 1927 Buick driven by Captain Joe McMahon of the Oregon Traffic Division to the present, you can see how the Oregon State Police mode of transportation has changed in the "Evolution of OSP Vehicles" section on our website.