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Police Interceptor Surveillance Mode Explained

Compared to GM or Chrysler models adapted for police use, the Ford Police Interceptor has a neat trick up its sleeve called Surveillance Mode. Though the system is still in its infancy, the Blue Oval announced it's offering it for use in military applications and to other carmakers that want to enhance the safety suite of their vehicle lineups. But how does this thing work?
Ford Police Interceptor 1 photo
Photo: Ford
Officer Claudia Kruger from Northville, Michigan is the person that offered to demonstrate how the Surveillance Mode system works. But before you press play and hear officer Claudia's thoughts on the system from the point of view of an active police officer, we deem necessary to explain the basics.

First of all, the current generation of the Police Interceptor is built on 60 years of expertise and the technology onboard shows that. Surveillance Mode is basically a gizmo that gives officers a boost of situational awareness, including a first line of defense from potential assailants. A radar and a rearview camera work together, detecting if a person with bad intentions approaches the car from behind.

If that happens, Surveillance Mode sounds a chime, rolls up the driver's side window, locks the doors and flashes the lights. Developed by InterMotive, a company from Auburn, California, Surveillance Mode is an extra safety net for law enforcers. Imagine this scenario: the officers are inside the car, writing a report or monitoring the in-car radar. That means they're not paying attention to what happens in the rearview mirror, so this system represents an extra set of eyes that protects them agaist potential threats.

Randy Freiburger, Ford special vehicle engineering supervisor, explains: "We want to assist with and improve the security of all police officers – whether they are using a Ford Police Interceptor or a competitive vehicle." To understand just how much this product can help them in the field, check out the video below.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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