I actually had a conditional job offer for Honolulu PD. All the vehicles, are actually department owned. What was explained to me by the officers was that after you are on the department for so long, you can opt to go into the vehicle program and pick a vehicle to use from the list. They department (which serves the ENTIRE island of Oahu, pays your extra a month to pay for the vehicle.
You are also responsible for the maintenance, and given extra month for that as well, like oil changes, tires, etc. After the vehicle is paid off, I was told the extra money is just yours to keep, probably changed by now with the economy the way it is, they probably will stop paying for it once it is paid off. I guess the list is approved police type vehicles, from CVPI, Chargers, Trucks, SUVs, and Sports Cars.
If you opt to go into the program, there is stipulations though. Even OFF duty, if you are near a call, you HAVE to respond IF you are in the department vehicle. You can use the vehicle for ANYTHING you want while off duty, going to the beach, store, driving around the island, etc. But you have to respond to anything that occurs if you are in it and near by. So some use the program, but if they are going out with family, they take a different car, as the department doesn't care if you are with the family or not, you drop them off at the store or a safe place and go to the call if you decide to use the department vehicle.
Honolulu PD, is the police department for the City and County of Honolulu, which is the entire island of Oahu, so I am sure that normal residents are used to seeing that their police are in unmarked vehicles, with just a blue light.
They also do not take laterals, anyone that wants to work for them, has to go to their academy, even if they are from another island. I wish I could have afforded to take the final park of the process by going to Hawaii, but at the time my finances wouldn't allow it. Now their entire process has changed.
