L.A. County Sheriff's Department to get electric Mini Coopers
The Mini Cooper doesn't immediately leap to mind as the kind of vehicle associated with policing, where preferences traditionally skew toward the wide-bodied and horsepower heavy.
But an experiment by Sheriff Lee Baca could mean a place for the diminutive set of wheels in a fleet that includes Ford Crown Victorias, Chevy Caprices and Dodge Chargers.
Under a pilot program approved Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the sheriff will get 17 electric-powered minis and electric charging stations at the locations where the cars are assigned.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said the vehicles will be distributed across the department, including administration offices, specialized units and for use in recruitment and for volunteers.
"It's clean-energy, it's cost-effective and it could prove to be a boon for the county," Whitmore said.
The cars are being donated by Mini U.S.A., a subsidiary of BMW, and will cost the department a $10-a-month processing fee. Maintenance of the vehicles and charging stations will be covered by BMW. A lease for the car typically runs $850 a month.
Mini wants feedback as to how the vehicles drive and handle in Los Angeles County road conditions, Whitmore said.
He called the experiment another example of how the sheriff is looking for "alternative ways to improve" how the department operates.
--Andrew Blankstein
Photo: Los Angeles Times
OMG, I would bust up laughing at a sheriff chasing me in a Mini Cooper.......Give me a break................
Posted by: anthony hall | June 16, 2009 at 04:48 PM
Dont laugh! Remember that smartcar got away from the CHP that night!
Posted by: Karl in Burbank | June 16, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Why does a lease normally cost $850 a month??
Posted by: Lisa | June 16, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Probably the wisest move give those vehicles to supervisors. Trying to put an electric Mini on regular duty is a recipe for failure. Five years from now it may be ready for full duty, I hope.
Posted by: Jeff | June 16, 2009 at 06:14 PM
This is excellent for our community. These vehicles would do wonderful things for the city's image in terms of showing what is being done in terms of investigating alternative energy. Their role in LA's police fleets (obviously not for highway pursuit) will also show LA as the automotive research and design center that it is. I also like that BMW will pick up the costs of these vehicles, rather than the city; free vehicles and less CO in the atmosphere. This is a great opportunity.
Posted by: Ryan Medalie | June 16, 2009 at 06:28 PM
it only makes sense, make the fat boys and girls lose weight, send cruiser for pickups on arrest, roll up mini get out fast, back in quick to catch more bad people!
Posted by: joe s | June 16, 2009 at 07:01 PM
They should be ordering modified Teslas.
Posted by: David | June 16, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Not quite as imposing as a big Crown Victoria chasing after you.
In fact, you might not even see the Mini in your rearview mirror.
Posted by: Dirk | June 16, 2009 at 08:52 PM
I got the first MINI E in the world. Come check out my blog and see how it is so far. www.petersminie.blogspot.com
Posted by: Peter Trepp | June 16, 2009 at 10:20 PM
... OTOH, the Secret Agent Man, Patrick McGoohan, drove a Mini-Cooper in "Danger Man"...
Posted by: John Baby! | June 16, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Why, why why is it that and Mini Cooper - or any new Mini is always spelled in lower case - when is should be spelled in upper case: MINI COOPER!
Mini Morris the 60-70 'Mini' is spelled in lower case.
But the new 'MINI' the brand name is is in capitals.
Who is responsible: The copyeditor?- Or the owners of
L.A. Times. Not l.a. Times.
Just like BMW not bmw!
Right?
Best regards,
John K Lindgren
Posted by: john k indgren | June 16, 2009 at 11:59 PM
To Lisa:
The lease is normally $850 a month because the cars cost over $50,000 and it's only a one year lease.
Posted by: Jeremy Curcio | June 17, 2009 at 07:55 AM
****Why, why why is it that and Mini Cooper - or any new Mini is always spelled in lower case - when is should be spelled in upper case: MINI COOPER!***
eh? only MINI is all caps. Cooper is fine.
the glaring thing that stuck in my mind when I saw this article is the picture at the top. That aint no electric MINI! That's the MINI Crossman that'll be out in about a year.
t
Posted by: robert | June 20, 2009 at 06:43 PM
While these are primarily being used for administration and recruiting purposes, for those of you scoffing at the idea of a MINI on the chase, consider the MINIs (albeit, highly modified) from the Italian Job. An excellent display of the car's fine motoring.
Posted by: Alice Cooper | September 16, 2009 at 11:12 PM