| As one of the biggest law enforcement departments | | | | used for patrol. |
| in the country, the Los Angeles police department has | | | | In the airborne vehicle variety, the Los Angeles police |
| access to the top-of-the-line in transportation | | | | department maintains the second largest non-military |
| machinery and equipment. To effectively patrol the | | | | airforce in the world, containing 21 helicopters and one |
| almost 500 square miles of the city of Los Angeles, | | | | fixed wing aircraft. |
| the department uses a number of different types of | | | | Bicycles are extensively used as transportation |
| vehicles; sedans, motorcycles, and helicopters. | | | | equipment by the Los Angeles police force. Bicycle |
| In the first vehicle category, the Ford Crown Victoria | | | | units are primarily used during special events to provide |
| Police Interceptor is the automobile of choice for patrol. | | | | fast and easy police assistance. The units may patrol |
| It is the only vehicle, which, following department policy, | | | | a ten to twenty-five miles area to provide assistance |
| is allowed to engage in a vehicle pursuit. The | | | | for any given event. Giant is the manufacturer of the |
| interceptors are black with the roof, doors, and pillars | | | | bicycles used by the department. |
| painted white, a scheme in use since around 1940. | | | | There is also an equestrian unit containing about 35 |
| Available options include handlebar lamps, sixteen-inch | | | | police horses. Typically used in special events, specially |
| steel wheels, and front door ballistic panels. | | | | trained police officers ride the horses to maintain |
| For the two-wheeled vehicle variety, Kawasaki Police | | | | crowd control. Though horses cannot be viewed as |
| motorcycles are the most common in the motor pool, | | | | vehicles in the traditional sense, they do effectively |
| along with a few Harley-Davidsons and BMWs. The | | | | convey officers to various points in a given beat. Matt |
| motorcycles are also painted black and white, and | | | | Paolini is an transportation writer for CityBook.com, the |
| carry a radio, radio equipment, a shotgun and | | | | family-safe Los Angeles Yellow Pages, which carries |
| documentation used by a police officer. When it rains, | | | | an extensive directory on Los Angeles machinery and |
| motorcycles are garaged and cars are exclusively | | | | equipment. |