A Tesla Model S is the first completely electric patrol car revealed by the Vanderburgh County sheriff

Evansville, Indiana – Is that acceptable for the streets? The first entirely electric police car in the history of the county is scheduled to roll around the streets, according to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.

The car was unveiled in all its glory on Friday.

The department purchased a used 2016 Tesla Model S 75D from a nearby company, and it was subsequently painted in a new shade of gold and brown and customized with the office’s emblem.

The sheriff’s office states that although the vehicle may be utilized for patrols, its primary purpose will be public outreach, recruitment, and advertising at “car shows, schools, parades, fairs,” among other events.

Sheriff Noah Robinson said in a release, “We wanted something that would capture the imagination of young people who might consider a career in law enforcement. Our patrol cars spend a significant amount of time idling on the side of the road. This burns fuel and wears out the engine. An electric patrol vehicle can run its emergency lights continuously for dozens of hours without needing refueling and without decreasing the lifespan of the motor.”

On Saturday, the car show at Wesselman Park in Evansville had the first public debut of the Vanderburgh County police Tesla.

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office has been employing hybrid patrol cars since 2020, and officials claim they are the first sheriff’s office in Indiana with a fully electric patrol car.