The Fremont Police Department has begun using Ford F-150 trucks as patrol vehicles, the department said in a Facebook post.
Fremont police recently purchased two F-150 Police Responder vehicles to replace two older patrol vehicles decommissioned because of age and condition.
Ford recently began offering the F-150 as a patrol vehicle equipped for pursuits, police said.
Fremont's standard patrol vehicle remains the Ford Explorer.
"The F-150 helps diversify our fleet, providing the department with an off-road emergency operation capability beyond that of the Ford Explorer," the department said. "In a major incident, the truck can travel off-road, and the bed of the truck could transport a person to an ambulance. The open bed of the truck also allows for personnel to transport items such as bicycles, car parts and other items that do not fit in the Explorer."
Sedans that were traditionally used by police agencies "have proven to be too small for the amount of equipment we are now required to carry in our patrol vehicles," the department said.
