JAN 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 1

A LOOK AT PAST, PRESENT

A LOOK AT PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE WORDS BY MICHAEL BARRON Over the years, I guess you could say just about every car made has been a police car at one time or another. The first “police vehicle” was actually a wagon run by electricity on the streets of Akron, Ohio in 1899. In the 1920s the New York City Police Department has employed a fleet of “Radio Motor Patrol” vehicles to aid in its fight against crime within the city. In the United States and Canada, police departments have historically used standard-sized, lowpriced line sedans since the days of the Ford Model A. Let’s look back at the history of the police car since that 1899 wagon; what the “big 3” have in store for the 2021 models; and investigate the future to see what you might be driving and/or flying in 2031. 1899 2021 2031 40 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 41 40 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 41 40 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 41