A police department in Southern California says it has the country’s first Tesla Cybertruck for police use, but the unusual vehicle won’t see much action.
The Irvine Police Department unveiled the purchase Tuesday in a splashy video on social media, including Facebook and X. The price tag: $153,175.03, including the installation of emergency equipment.
The police department said its Cybertruck would have a limited role: jazzing up anti-drug events at schools through the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.
"For over three decades, our DARE officers have driven attention-grabbing and one-of-a-kind vehicles that never fail to turn heads and excite students,” the department said on Facebook.
A minutelong video created by the Irvine Police Department shows the vehicle driving alone at night with lights flashing and dramatic music playing in the background.
Irvine is in Orange County, south of Los Angeles.
The police department put the price tag in context in a fact sheet distributed to the media, saying the more commonly seen Ford Police Interceptor costs $116,000 with an expected life of three to four years. It said it expects to use the Cybertruck for 10 years.
Sgt. Karie Davies, a spokesperson, said in an email that the police department expects to save money in the long run, including by not having to purchase gas for the Cybertruck. And she said the department needed a new D.A.R.E. vehicle anyway.
"The Cybertruck is a replacement for another DARE vehicle that has reached its shelf life," she said.
The Cybertruck has had a rocky start since Tesla began delivering the unusual vehicle in November. While some sales estimates have been positive, the Cybertruck has had five recalls over software or equipment problems, and its vulnerabilities — such as no washing in direct sunlight — have helped make it a frequent punch line on the internet.
Although Irvine police said they won’t use the Cybertruck as a patrol car, they didn’t rule out other uses should the need arise.
“While the fully equipped vehicle won’t be used as a patrol car, it can respond to emergencies and assist the community when needed,” the police department said on Facebook.
