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Australian-Built Police Cars To Patrol Campbell Streets

CAMPBELL (KCBS) – Police cars built by General Motors in Australia will soon hit the streets of Campbell, as the department is replacing their aging fleet of vehicles.

The department is facing a problem that many other law enforcement agencies are dealing with. Ford's Crown Victoria, which is the most popular model with police departments, is no longer being built.

"So we took a look at what was available out there and decided that the Chevy Caprice is going to best suit our needs and has the most interior room," said Campbell Police Captain Charley Adams. "So when someone is in a car all day long, being cramped is not a good thing."

Campbell Police Department Goes Overseas For New Fleet Of Cars

Chevrolet is only building the Caprice PPV in Australia, so there is a bit of a delay in getting the vehicles delivered to California.

Adams said the model is especially well-suited for the needs of law enforcement officials.

"Good room inside, the ability to carry some extra cargo, good handling and performance," he said. "So we find that if we are working traffic enforcement, if we can get a car that can rapidly accelerate, we end up in fewer pursuits."

General Motors is making the Caprice only available to law enforcement agencies in the United States.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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