Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504170089
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Short
The Lynchburg Police Department's narcotics strike force has just shaved valuable time off the suspects' usual head start. The strike force now has a ``jump-out car'' - a car without doors.
Officers say the two seconds it takes to open a car door could be the difference between an arrest and a wasted chase.
``Once you determine there is drug activity, you need to get a team in quickly,'' said Police Chief Charles Bennett. ``You need to get the suspects while [the drugs] are still on their person.''
Bennett unveiled the car Friday at a news conference.
The car has safety belts across each opening, which snap from the inside. There are also handles to grab onto inside.
As the car pulls up to a drug scene, all officers have to do is unsnap their safety belts, jump out and run.
Officers demonstrated that Friday. Speeding down a parking lot, they came to a screeching halt, jumped out and all but tackled Lynchburg Mayor Jim Whitaker, who was on hand for the unveiling.
Another benefit of the car is that adrenaline won't be a drawback, said Cmdr. Mike Glass.
``A lot of times what happens is the officer is so excited, they throw open the door and it comes right back at them, wasting time,'' Glass said. ``This eliminates that.''
There were six lightning bolts painted on the car's front end. Bennett said the bolts represent arrests made by the five-member strike force, which was established in February 1994.
For every 10 drug arrests, a new bolt is placed on the car. Bennett said two bolts still needed to be added.
by CNB