As one of the premier law enforcement departments in the country, the Los Angeles police department has access to the very best in transportation machinery and equipment. To effectively patrol the almost 500 square miles comprising the city of Los Angeles, the department uses a variety of vehicles; sedans, motorcycles, and helicopters.



In the first category category, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the automobile of choice for patrol. It is the only vehicle, which, following department policy, is permitted to engage in a vehicle pursuit. The interceptors are black with the roof, doors, and pillars painted white, a scheme in use since around 1940. Available options include oversized lamps, sixteen-inch steel wheels, and front door ballistic panels.

For the two-wheeled vehicle variety, Kawasaki Police motorcycles are the most common in the motor pool, along with some Harley-Davidsons and BMWs. The cycles are also painted black and white, and hold a radio, communication equipment, a shotgun and documentation used by a police officer. When it rains, motorcycles are stored away and sedans are exclusively utilized for patrol.

In the airborne vehicle variety, the Los Angeles police department maintains the second largest non-military airforce in the world, containing 21 helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft.

Bicycles are extensively utilized as transportation equipment by the LAPD. Bicycle units are primarily used during special events to provide fast and easy police assistance. The units may patrol a ten to twenty-five miles area to provide assistance for any given event. Giant is the manufacturer of the bicycles used by the department.

There is also an equestrian unit comprised of about 35 police horses. Usually utilized in special events, specially trained police officers ride the horses to maintain crowd control. Though horses are not viewed as vehicles in the traditional sense, they do effectively carry officers to various points in a given beat.