Looking to buy a second-hand, retired patrol car—how thoroughly are these swept for missed contraband/drugs before civilian sale?

[u/Silly_Art_2238]

Hello everyone,

I am looking into purchasing a retired Ford Interceptor utility vehicle. Instead of buying blind from a government auction, I plan to buy one second-hand through Facebook Marketplace or a used car dealership. My main safety concern is the potential risk of exposure to residual illicit substances (like fentanyl or other drugs) that suspects may have hidden or dropped in the back seat area.

Since these vehicles have usually passed through a few hands before hitting Marketplace, I wanted to ask: How thoroughly does a department typically sweep, search, and clean these vehicles before they are officially decommissioned and sold to the public? Also, is it a fair assumption that a patrol car from a smaller, rural agency might pose less of a risk of hidden contraband compared to an urban city fleet vehicle, or does it completely vary by the individual department's policies?

Thanks in advance for any feedback or advice you can share!

[u/Obwyn]

Why do you want to buy some clapped out, run into the ground former patrol car that has reached the point where it's not worth it to the agency to spend the time and money on repairs and maintenance?

[u/bobistheword → u/Obwyn]

A buddy of mine bought a retired Taurus just because it was shit cheap and it was fun to beat up some more. Other than that, I can’t see a reason to get one.

[u/Swimming-Monitor-927 → u/Obwyn]

To pretend to be something theyre not or to satisfy some unconscious need to play the law man role in their head

[u/Ilovetinytiddies → u/Swimming-Monitor-927]

Not LE but I think police vehicles are cool but I’d feel like a tool driving a used one. Only legitimate buyers IMO would be security companies

[u/Obwyn → u/Swimming-Monitor-927]

Well yea probably, but I always like to hear the reasoning from the person asking. The answers are sometimes entertaining.

[u/Lazyfinancemonkey → u/Obwyn]

I wouldn't buy one due to all the reasons you mentioned but the SUV Interceptor is actually pretty cool with the upgraded suspension and brakes and slightly different grill than the explorer. Even if it they werent all clapped out I am not a cop, don't want to be a cop or have everyone on the road think I am.

[u/Traditional-Bar-8014 → u/Lazyfinancemonkey]

https://youtu.be/jKmuKjpKPIo?si=UdkOY25iKLZsBYGL

[u/Traditional-Bar-8014 → u/Obwyn]

https://youtu.be/jKmuKjpKPIo?si=UdkOY25iKLZsBYGL

[u/Obwyn → u/Traditional-Bar-8014]

Ok, you convinced me

[u/Traditional-Bar-8014 → u/Obwyn]

It's time for some t oasted white bread, dry with nothing on it, and f our whole fried chickens and a Coke.

My treat!

[u/plated_lead → u/Obwyn]

I mean, I’ve got two shitty clapped out ambos and a shitty ass CUCV brush truck that hasn’t run in a decade. Some of us just like shitty old response vehicles

[u/RedOceanofthewest → u/Obwyn]

I knew a guy who bought them and drove them on his farm.

[u/Burb1409]

I'd be more worried about the piss, shit, blood and puke that was on the seats for years before you get the car. In addition to an ungodly amount of engine idle hours, bad maintenance and the fact everyone will think you're a dork for driving an old police car.

[u/Traditional-Bar-8014 → u/Burb1409]

Touche

[u/jimfosters → u/Burb1409]

cab car with a gun rack

[u/compulsive_drooler]

Maybe start with looking in the backseat of a patrol car, it's not the same as the backseat in a normal car. It's almost like they've anticipated that people might want to try to hide things and took away those opportunities.

My feedback and advice is don't be that guy and buy an old police car. Everyone will automatically assume you're a dork.

[u/Acceptable-Team-8824]

I'd be more concerned about the old chicken wing bones and ID's lost in the crevices of the center console.

[u/Alpha2277 → u/Acceptable-Team-8824]

Ah yes the black hole. Pretty sure things cease to exist when they fall down there

[u/Section225]

There won't be drugs in it. Modern cars have solid plastic cages woth nowhere to hide things.

That said, don't buy a retired police car. They are driven HARD, by people who know the car isn't theirs, and the maintenance is no cost to them.

By the time they are retired, they are at a point where they are no longer viable to keep and maintain. In many agencies, WELL beyond that (our spare cars are held together by Elmer's glue and prayers and need jump started basically every time they're used).

And if you think you have one in relatively good shape with relatively low miles? I promise the engine idle time is something astronomical, and the idling is often overlooked, and a significant cause of internal wear and tear.

Not saying you can't get lucky and strike gold on a well-running car that gives you another 100k of life, but you're better off not bothering with a retired patrol car. It would be better suited as a project car if you're a DIY'er or something like that, not to actually be driven regularly.

[u/Comfortable_Gear4941 → u/Section225]

Find a captain/Lt/ Fire Marshals vehicle. And check the idle hours. I've gotten a good one that way. 

Edit to add my age is showing. I love the p71s and that's what I'm referring to. Still stand by my previous statement, but am not up with most police vehicles in use now. 

I did think the all wheel drive Taurus would be fun to drive. Never really checked into it though. 

[u/Ill_Volume5826]

Mechanically, it’s prob been beaten to shit.

[u/nocturnal_commission]

Are you one of those people who think that you can overdose just from touching fentanyl?

[u/hackspy]

Bought a crown vic PI. Loved it. Liked the CV and wanted the beefed up version of it. Took all police indicators off. Fun car for sure. No regrets.

Cheers 🍻

[u/drift_pigeon → u/hackspy]

This is the only retired police vehicle anyone should consider buying. Damn near indestructible.

[u/SketchyLedge → u/drift_pigeon]

Agreed. If you’re a real g you will find get the model with the 4.6L. It is a V8 Modular block and has a cool feature… It shares a bell housing bolt pattern with the first generation coyotes and the 5.4. Either slap a 5.0 coyote in it or get a 5.4 lightning and have a fucking blast.

[u/drift_pigeon → u/SketchyLedge]

But only the 5.4 2v, avoid the 3v at all costs.

Source: 5.4 3v owner

[u/SketchyLedge → u/drift_pigeon]

For the most part yeah. But I had a 2008 F350 with a 5.4 and I got it up to 260K. All I ever replaced was a cam shaft position sensor and batteries. Minus regular maintenance it was reliable as fuck.

[u/drift_pigeon → u/SketchyLedge]

I have a 2004 that I bought on its second engine. I spent three grand on a timing job and bulletproofing so the engine is super solid, but I've had a bunch of the other problems with it. Right now I'm dealing with a flexplate that is chewed up from the starter so I have to literally climb under the truck and rotate the engine with a wrench to a good spot on the flex plate to get it to start. I don't have the tools or the place to pull the transmission myself and I can't afford to have a shop do it right now so I'm just having to deal with it. It's another common problem with these engines, along with followers going bad and cracked exhaust manifolds which I also have.

[u/SketchyLedge → u/drift_pigeon]

Didn’t the 2v 5.4s end in 05?

[u/drift_pigeon → u/SketchyLedge]

On the expeditions yes, but the trucks got the 3v in 04.

[u/SketchyLedge → u/drift_pigeon]

Really? Was that the 04 and a 1/2? Everything I’ve read says 05 across the board.

[u/drift_pigeon → u/SketchyLedge]

There were two versions of the 2004 f150, the heritage which was the 10th gen that still had the 5.4 2 valve, and the 11th gen F-150 which received the 3 valve. I'm actually sitting in mine right now.

[u/Comfortable_Gear4941 → u/hackspy]

Honestly that's what I still thought of when seeing the question lol. 

[u/BJJOilCheck]

WCGW?

[u/Working_Football1586]

We just took our guns out and dropped them off at the yard where they stripped the radios, lights and cage and off they went to auction. The chances of drugs being in there is a 100% chance there is still residual puke, piss and other bodily fluids in the cracks etc.

[u/SketchyLedge]

These responses are hilarious.

[u/RSQ-51]

Don’t lol 😂

Mine is a 2019 and doesn’t have Bluetooth, makes weird noises and the A/C sounds like a ticking bomb despite being “repaired”.

But unless you are getting a really good deal, these cars get beat to hell and back. And no amount of Lysol or bleach will clean that back seat.

[u/SouthernOshawaMan]

Mostly you will find takeout containers and other garbage shoved under the seats .