A Powerful Police Car
Criminals in Ohio might feel a slight dread at the thought of a police Dodge Challenger Hellcat, but in reality, they shouldn’t worry. This powerful car will not be used for pursuits or high-speed chases. Instead, it is intended for participation in parades and community events where police officers can communicate with residents.
Technical Specifications
Officially, the Ohio police call this car a Hellcat, but it has a hood from the Redeye version. If it is indeed the Redeye model and not the standard Hellcat, then its power is 797 horsepower instead of 707. Such cars are capable of covering a quarter mile in less than 11 seconds, making them faster than most production cars.
Vehicle’s Purpose
As is often the case with powerful cars in police fleets, this Challenger will not be used to fight crime. Police officers gladly demonstrate its speed qualities, as seen in a video published on social media where the car runs a drag strip.
View this post on Instagram. A post from Ohio State Highway Patrol (@ohiostatehighwaypatrol)
History of Appearance in the Fleet
To prepare the car for police service, new decals were applied to it, and flashing red and blue lights were installed behind the front grille. The Ohio State Highway Patrol notes that they did not purchase this car from a dealer – it came into their possession through asset forfeiture by court order. If the police had not decided to keep it in their fleet, the car would have been sold or destroyed.
Previous Similar Cases
This is not the first time a confiscated Hellcat has ended up in a police fleet in the USA. Three years ago, Texas police received a modified Challenger Hellcat with 1080 horsepower, which was confiscated from an owner who was engaged in street racing and fled from police at speeds of up to 160 mph.
The use of confiscated high-performance cars in police fleets is becoming an increasingly common practice in various states. This approach not only saves money but also creates additional opportunities for community interaction. However, it is important to understand that these powerful cars primarily perform representative functions and are not used for operational tasks requiring high speeds.