Tesla Cybertrucks may soon appear even in law enforcement operations as police departments start procuring the angular EV trucks into their service, starting with California.
(Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the Irvine Police Department teased the arrival of Cybertrucks in the coming months with the tag #notkidding.
The police department later told Gizmodo that the new police vehicle would be used "for community outreach," although the police department claimed to not disclose further information until "we officially introduce it to the community."
Also Read: You Might See Cybertruck Police Cars Rolling Out Soon
Tesla Gains Popularity Among Police Forces
The Irvine Police Department is not the only law enforcement force that has since taken a fancy to the futuristic Tesla truck after it first officially launched late last year.
Before the Irvine PD, 404 Media earlier reported that another California police department, Anaheim, is looking to add Cybertrucks into their forces, according to internal documents obtained.
The Rosenberg Police Department in Texas also previously teased the idea of Cybertruck police cars, calling the attention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter).
Spotted out in the wild.
— Rosenberg Police (@RosenbergPolice) January 2, 2024
What do you think @elonmusk… will the #Cybertruck make a good police vehicle? It’s still hard to find new vehicles to replenish our older police units. Should we make the change in 2024? pic.twitter.com/WRlZWiSSK7
Police Cybertruck Faces Backlash Online, from Residents
While the Irvine Police Department may seem positive with the addition of Cybertruck to their forces, the same cannot be said with many viewers.
As seen in their Instagram posts, most comments criticize the police department for procuring what seems to be a "waste of tax dollars."
Much of the frustration stemmed from the hefty price needed even for at least one Cybertruck, funds that could be allocated to other direct actions to help its constituents.
For reference, a single Cybertruck usually costs over 61,000 with the models distributed currently being distributed going over $100,000 each.
It did not help that California police forces have long been scrutinized for spending less time with "high priority" crimes with their vehicles than patrolling or escorting VIPS in their area.
Related Article: Tesla Begins Distributing Cybertrucks at Whopping $61K
