 Posted 1/7/2008 12:13:00 PM
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ORIGINAL POLICE FLEET FORUM POST
Posted by ckamai
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Just added 3 of these to my fleet for Investigations/Admin use. Finding great difficulty in locating aftermarket equipment to upfit these vehicles. Primarily interested in replacing center console so siren controller/mobile radio can be easily mounted. Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions?
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Chief Charles T.C. Kamai
Kodiak Police Department
217 Lower Mill Bay Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
907.486.8000 Voice
907.486.8026 Fax
ckamai@city.kodiak.ak.us
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Posted 1/7/2008 12:13:28 PM
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ORIGINAL POLICE FLEET FORUM POST
Posted by dcox
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Chief,
I am going to assume you have already called/contacted the major suppliers (Havis Shield, Jotto Desk, Gamber Johnson, etc). Do your cars have a floor (center console) or column shift levers? Split bench or bucket seats?
If it's a column shift, any decent upfitter should be able to cobble a useful mount for radio and siren/light controller.
If floor-mounted, a little creativity is in order. Fed-Sig offers a light/siren control head with remote mount "brain box" (SmartSiren). Code 3 offers the Remote Lighted Siren which is similar. Both are "flat" faced and the box could easily be mounted in the trunk. The face module, depending on your interior and skill of your up-fitter, can be placed dang near anywhere in easy reach of the officer, including overhead. (skill matters)
Motorola, Kenwood, E F Johnson and most other radio manufacturers offer some type of remote head radio. Again, the box goes in the trunk. Routing the wiring/cables is similar to the regular patrol car. Contact your radio vendor for their options. You may find a retro-fit kit for your existing radio.
As you are setting up "Admin" vehicles, have you looked into "decal" antennas? They are basically a peel and stick black flap which has an electrical connector to the radio. This way, when your car goes down the road, it just looks like a car, not an unmarked police car.
If this helps, give me a shout.
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Posted 1/7/2008 12:13:55 PM
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ORIGINAL POLICE FLEET FORUM POST
Posted by ckamai
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These vehicles are floor center colum equipped. From what I understand, Ford has no plans to produce this model of vehicle with a colum shifter. Checked the majors and no one is manufacturing a floor center console, prisoner cage, etc. Mobile radios are remote head and we do plan on mounting "brain box" in trunk. Found a siren - I think manufactured by Federal Signal that is a remote control unit. Basic light and accessory controles along with PA are all mounted into an approx. 6 inch long microphone. This device rests in a cradle that supposedly can be mounted anywhere. I will keep looking for aftermarket stuff and I appreciate the feedback.
_________________
Chief Charles T.C. Kamai
Kodiak Police Department
217 Lower Mill Bay Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
907.486.8000 Voice
907.486.8026 Fax
ckamai@city.kodiak.ak.us
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Posted 1/7/2008 12:14:57 PM
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ORIGINAL POLICE FLEET FORUM POST
Posted by FireEMSPolice
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You may have to fabricate something. You could always call an agency that uses a Ford 500. I cannot imagine Ford changing much since they changed it from the 500 to the Taurus. One department comes to mind:
2005 Ford Five Hundred
Walpole Police Department
972 Main Street
Walpole, MA 02081
508-668-1095
http://www.walpolepd.com/
Richard B. Stillman, Chief of Police
I do not know anyone at Walpole but it may be worth a shot to you.
My former department I was on, the Sheriff's unmarked county vehicle was a 2001 (I think) Ford Taurus. He had the radio and a Code 3 VCon mounted on the side of the floor shifter.
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Posted 1/7/2008 12:15:19 PM
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ORIGINAL POLICE FLEET FORUM POST
Posted by n3lee
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The company i'm working for has performed this work for Walpole, i e-mailed the cheif privately, contact me if your interseted in further information!
--Lee
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Posted 4/6/2008 4:31:48 PM
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I have the sister to the 500 / Taurus, the Freestyle. I had to upgrade all my equipment with a Federal Signal Smart Siren in one car and a Code 3 RLS and just mounted to the center counsel and had the shop just mount the radio on the side of the counsel. I guess I will not buy one again just for the reason I am on my 5th transmission in 42000 miles and 10 pairs of rear braked pads in both cars. Ford said there was a recall on both. I purchased these car May of 2007 and there was no parts availaible at that time. Good luck.
Gregg McElroy
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