virgivaughn: Homegrown Dodge Dart Police Car Hits the Mean Streets of Belvidere, Illinois.

courtesy: Chrysler

Although already patrolled by a Dodge Charger Pursuit cruiser, the city of Belvidere, Illinois—longtime home to a Chrysler facility employing over 4500 local residents—thought it might be nice to add a vehicle to their local police fleet with deeper ties to the local community. Problem was, the 45-year-old, nearly 5-million-square-foot Chrysler plant in Belvidere produces Dodge Darts, not Chargers. Belvidere police chief Jan Noble threw convention to the wind and asked Chrysler for a Dart cop car.

What they got is a one-off Dodge Dart police vehicle complete with light bar and B.P.D. graphics; it’s earmarked for non-patrol duty and ceremonial purposes. Heading off punchlines at the pass, Chrysler points out that 20 percent of law-enforcement fleet vehicles typically are non-patrol vehicles used by detectives, police administrators, and other department personnel.

As part of the arrangement, the Belvidere Police Department will provide Chrysler Group with feedback on the newly deputized Dart to aid Chrysler in determining the future viability of marketing a non-patrol Dodge Dart police vehicle in the U.S. and abroad. (We’re sure China would eat it up some Fiat Viaggio police sleds.)

courtesy: Chrysler