A new option designed to better protect police offers is coming to Ford's Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicle lineup. In a press release from earlier today, the automaker announced the addition of ballistic panels designed to protect against armor-piercing rifle ammunition. The factory equipped vehicles will be the first in the United States to offer protection up to Department of Justice’s (DoJ) National Institute of Justice standard Type IV.
DoJ Type IV standards include protection from 10.8 gram .30 caliber armor piercing rounds with a velocity of 878 meters per second.
“The fact that we design our Police Interceptors around officer feedback is what has made them number one. Officers globally told us they needed protection from armor-piercing ammunition and we added increased ballistic protection to an already great product – that’s continuous innovation,” said Arie Groeneveld, chief engineer, Ford Police Interceptors.
Further evidence of Ford's commitment to officer safety can be found in various features such as a 75-mph rear crash test rating, police-tuned suspensions, police brakes, steel wheels, unique police interiors as well as a range of upfit options.