Photos: new Ohio State Patrol light bars

[dawson75]

cmon John ,


They have one useful purpose.


They do make a great pond fishing boat

 

[dustymedic]

where is that yard? i've allways herd rumors of it but never knew where.

Do you mean the install yard? It's on the west side of Alum Creek Drive, Just north of the nursing home at 1599 Alum Creek Drive.

 

[11b101abn]

I saw a GSP car with a Code 3 bar for the first time the other day and it wasn't bad. The car, a Charger, is the first 2010 I've seen with GSP and is set up differently than most. Instead of blue and gray, it was all gray but still with the orange lettering. It also had a regular push bumper instead of the wrap around that Chargers usually get. As for lights, the old set up was a Liberty, 2 2 head dominators in the grill, 2 angle lin 3's on the PB for intersection warning, a 6 head dominator on the rear deck, and OEM HLF/TLF all ran off a Whelen switch box and Motorola siren. This car had a Code 3 with clear lenses (as bright was a liberty but didn't seem to hurt my eyes as bad up close), Code 3 par 36 LEDs in the fog lights (pretty bright, but wasn't too impressed since one was filled halfway with water and went from flashing to an extremely dim steady burn), a Code 3 2 head tir 6 dash light on the rear deck in teal blue (not impressive) and OEM HLF/TLF. The siren speaker was mounted on the push bumper used the middle bar and flush with the passenger side vertical pole. It didn't look the best but has to be louder than what the older Chargers had. For a control box, it looked like a V-Con with a pursuit switch. It was also the first time I've seen a GSP car with a Stalker Dual Radar, which I am very jealous of.

Overall, I believe Code has stepped up their game and, if they are cheaper then Whelen, can definitely see why OHP, GSP, and others are switching. I am sure, now that the big guys have switched, a lot of smaller departments will start shopping Code 3.

Those cars a re contract overruns from another state agency, purchased by GSP.

 

[RL1]

Those cars a re contract overruns from another state agency, purchased by GSP.

Ahh. I wish my dept could get something like that...

 

[Hoser]

Short Video showing OSP car. SHELBY CO: Veterans leave for war memorial D.C. trip - Video - WHIO Dayton From Newscenter 7 WHIO Dayton.

 

[SlickTop Solutions]

I've seen several over the last couple of days while I have been back home. It takes some getting used to seeing all blue and not the red/blue bar.

 

[JaBradt85]

I think I like the all blue bar and red grille lights.

 

[Byte]

Deleted

 

[RL1]

I thought there was a red light above the rear view mirror.

 

[mjw357]

I thought there was a red light above the rear view mirror.

No, single red in the top of the rear window.

 

[ryan]

most of the cars I have seen have the red light above the rear view miror

 

[FireEMSPolice]

Do you mean the install yard? It's on the west side of Alum Creek Drive, Just north of the nursing home at 1599 Alum Creek Drive.

Yep. Its got a big sign that says "CENTRAL INSTALL," "TAILOR SHOP" and something else I cant recall.

 

[trooper1465]

I was with the OSHP when we changed over from the Whelen strobe bar to the Vista bar. That was a drastic change considering all the extra lighting they added. It was okay for a while then became a maintenance nightmare.


I am really happy with the new look and choice of equipment. The all blue LED bar really punches through even the brightest daylight and gets noticed!! The auto dimming feature is very nice also.


As far as the single red light in the rear glass and the two behind the grille, that's a compliance effort with the Ohio Revised Code on the color of police vehicle lighting.

 

[Fluffy126577]

I found this gem today... Thought I would share. I know it's not much but I was excited to get it on here!!!





P.S. - I think it's freakin sick!!

 

[PJD642]

That is a NICE looking Charger, but WTF - no spotlight?

 

[Fluffy126577]

I don't know what stage this is in so it might be comming. It was on a trooper buddy of mines FB page.


EDIT: I think the bar was just sat on top of the charger to see what it looks like. I put it as my desktop at work and saw a large amount of cable still on the roof and no straps. So I am assuming this is not a complete car. But still going to be SICK none the less.

 

[theolog]

Love the lightbars...our K9 cars have them and they're awesome. Hate the colored lenses though.

 

[RL1]

I found this gem today... Thought I would share. I know it's not much but I was excited to get it on here!!!




P.S. - I think it's freakin sick!!

The tires and grill almost make it look like a civi model.

 

[Hoser]

Thats one bad lookin patrol car, thanks for sharing fluffy!!

 

[Johnny_Law]

I found this gem today... Thought I would share. I know it's not much but I was excited to get it on here!!!




P.S. - I think it's freakin sick!!

This is the color that's been chosen by OSP..... However, this particular Charger was bought off of the showroom floor just to be temporarily decaled and have a new lightbar put on top to get the general idea of what the new cars will look like. Also, they wanted to give the techs at CI a chance to form a plan as to how they will go about the installations and building of cars once the Chargers show up.


If I'm not mistaking, this particular Charger will ultimately end up as a Liquor Enforcement vehicle. OSP's won't have the sporty rims that you see here, but this is the color that I was talking about in my earlier post.

 

[FireEMSPolice]

To the Ohio people, I am told there is a place in Dublin where OSP builds their cars. If so, where is it at in Dublin? It was my understanding that all builds are done at Central Install.

 

[Hoser]

This is the color that's been chosen by OSP..... However, this particular Charger was bought off of the showroom floor just to be temporarily decaled and have a new lightbar put on top to get the general idea of what the new cars will look like. Also, they wanted to give the techs at CI a chance to form a plan as to how they will go about the installations and building of cars once the Chargers show up.

If I'm not mistaking, this particular Charger will ultimately end up as a Liquor Enforcement vehicle. OSP's won't have the sporty rims that you see here, but this is the color that I was talking about in my earlier post.

That would explain the lack of the spotlight on this unit. When I spoke to a Radio tech from OSP he told me that the Installs are basically plug and play. Bought wiring harnesses that are made up for the model car. Be it the crown vics that are getting updated or the new tahoes and chargers. Said it makes it very nice to do them. As everything is numbered and pre-engineered and makes it nice for them to install and wire up and he units will all be the same. Unlike in the past where you had different techs doing it their own way and a hodge podge of installs. After all the Chargers aren't new to the OSP as they have had some out there. Was also told the drivers seats are made to accommodate a officer wearing a gun belt, and are very comfortable.

 

[mjw357]

To the Ohio people, I am told there is a place in Dublin where OSP builds their cars. If so, where is it at in Dublin? It was my understanding that all builds are done at Central Install.

It could be Parr Public Safety Equipment. Not sure who else has a shop up that way.

 

[FireEMSPolice]

It could be Parr Public Safety Equipment. Not sure who else has a shop up that way.

Parr Public Safety is not in Dublin. They are in Plain City. Parr just provides equipment, their shop next door, Public Safety Concepts does the installs.

 

[mjw357]

Parr Public Safety is not in Dublin. They are in Plain City. Parr just provides equipment, their shop next door, Public Safety Concepts does the installs.

Yes I know where they are, I've been there. Even though the address is Plain City, the shop is miles closer to Dublin than Plain City, since we are splitting hairs.

 

[ccmedic17]

Oh wow......That is Hideous!!

 

[TritonBoulder47]

Oh wow......That is Hideous!!

Where do you see a Vista...? LoL

 

[Hoser]

Here ya go Charger with a canoe..........

 

[TritonBoulder47]

Here ya go Charger with a canoe..........

I totally could have gone without that... LoL

 

[FLAGSHIP]

All junk. It does the job, but these economy bars are no Whelen Edge Bars. I don't like it when agencies cut corners. I know that budgets are getting smaller because of local "NO" votes by taxpayers, but agencies should go for the best.

 

[Hoser]

Where do you see a Vista...? LoL

Ask and you shall receive....

 

[dustymedic]

They had a few test cars with chevrons on the back a year or two ago, I wonder if those will show up since they are going back to cars the color of the pavement???

 

[MeefZah]

Their cars will no longer be white. They are going with the Dodge factory Gray, or maybe a grayish-silver color patrol car again.

I was under the impression that after Tpr Vasquez was killed by an OVI driver a few years back, OSP researched the issue and found the gray cars were not as visible; and then switched to white. I'm surprised they are switching back. Do you have a link of any sort?

 

[Johnny_Law]

I was under the impression that after Tpr Vasquez was killed by an OVI driver a few years back, OSP researched the issue and found the gray cars were not as visible; and then switched to white. I'm surprised they are switching back. Do you have a link of any sort?

Other than the pictures that have been shared here, sorry, I don't have any links...... Funny that you mention that thing to do with Frank Vasquez..... That, IMO, was purely political posturing by a former superintendant, to further his own political ambitions, but that's neither here nor there.


From what I've been told, was that Ohio was the only state using that color of gray on a patrol car, so Ford was going to discontinue that particular color, unless of course Ohio wanted to pay the hefty price tag to continue to have their patrol cars painted that color.... Ohio opted to not pay the price tag and just start using a color that was readily available, so they went with white.


To me, whenever there were still gray cars in the fleet, I always found it easier to see a gray cruiser with yellow reflective decals at night rather than a white cruiser with silver reflective decals.

 

[GPC]

Other than the pictures that have been shared here, sorry, I don't have any links...... Funny that you mention that thing to do with Frank Vasquez..... That, IMO, was purely political posturing by a former superintendant, to further his own political ambitions, but that's neither here nor there.

From what I've been told, was that Ohio was the only state using that color of gray on a patrol car, so Ford was going to discontinue that particular color, unless of course Ohio wanted to pay the hefty price tag to continue to have their patrol cars painted that color.... Ohio opted to not pay the price tag and just start using a color that was readily available, so they went with white.


To me, whenever there were still gray cars in the fleet, I always found it easier to see a gray cruiser with yellow reflective decals at night rather than a white cruiser with silver reflective decals.

NC runs grey.

 

[FireEMSPolice]

Here is a picture for comparison. These were taken at the rest area on I-71N in Delaware County

 

[Spectre]

The State saved $200.00 per cruiser by going "standard white" That was the reasoning in a Columbus Dispatch article on the subject when this started.

 

[PJD642]

I personally think the white looks better anyway. You start getting away from that into specialized custom colors and it becomes a PITA. My Agency has, at last count, vehicles that are four different shades of silver because the Chief likes that color instead of white. Sigh.

 

[WPD8908]

Other than the pictures that have been shared here, sorry, I don't have any links...... Funny that you mention that thing to do with Frank Vasquez..... That, IMO, was purely political posturing by a former superintendant, to further his own political ambitions, but that's neither here nor there.

From what I've been told, was that Ohio was the only state using that color of gray on a patrol car, so Ford was going to discontinue that particular color, unless of course Ohio wanted to pay the hefty price tag to continue to have their patrol cars painted that color.... Ohio opted to not pay the price tag and just start using a color that was readily available, so they went with white.


To me, whenever there were still gray cars in the fleet, I always found it easier to see a gray cruiser with yellow reflective decals at night rather than a white cruiser with silver reflective decals.

Johnny law.. I was told the same thing by a Trp. friend. And they did save money by not painting a special Color.. same as Ohio turnpkie and their yellow trucks .. special paint means extra money

 

[FireEMSPolice]

Yet, Medium Titanium remained available until the end.