For other similar vehicles, see Police Car.
For the law enforcement in general, see Police (law enforcement).
The Police (or Police Car) is a prominent emergency vehicle appearing in the 3D Universe games.
Description[]
The Police is the primary response police vehicle used by the police departments of the city. The vehicle is generally known as the "Police", with the exception of Grand Theft Auto Advance and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, where it is referred to as the Police Car and VCPD Cruiser, respectively.
They have two sirens, one default wail tone, and the yelp tone, triggered by holding the horn button. The player will receive five rounds of ammunition for any weapon in the Shotgun slot after entering a Police car.
Design[]
The general design of the Police varies in accordance with the settings of the games, but they retain the same sedan design that is also shared with the Taxi. These renditions are based on real-life police vehicles used around their corresponding eras.
Grand Theft Auto III — Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
The Police resembles a cross between a Chevrolet Caprice and a Ford Crown Victoria. An early pre-release concept rendering shows that it was also influenced by the 1994–1997 Audi A6, as the early model bears a strong resemblance to one, down to the little bumps for the headlight washers. It is the primary vehicle of the LCPD between 1998 and 2001.
In Grand Theft Auto III, the Police features a black/white paintjob with "LCPD" and "POLICE" markings around it, reminiscent of most Californian police patrol vehicles such as LAPD and many Highway Patrol units. It has a red/white light bar on the roof, along with four additional red lamps and what appears to be a traffic advisor facing to the rear (though they flash red and blue lights when on). The Police was originally intended to have a blue paint scheme with white stripes, similar to 1990s/early 2000s NYPD police cars, however, this was changed shortly before the the release of the game. This was because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took place in New York City in September of 2001, and the designers of GTA III felt that it was insensitive to have the emergency vehicles of the game resemble those that may have been at the scene of the attacks.
In Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the vehicle retains its black and white colour scheme, however as opposed to the white doors, the entire body is now black. The GTA III livery is also replaced with the original striped livery featured on the blue police car. The red lamps from the GTA III iteration were also removed.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City — Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
The design of the Police is a combination of the front and rear of the fourth generation Ford LTD and the midsection of the GM-Opel Senator A. It is the standard vehicle of the VCPD between 1984 and 1986.
Both renditions feature a green and white livery with "City of Vice Police" markings on either side. The color choice appear to reflect the police cars used by the Miami-Dade Police Department (although the paint scheme seems to emulate the ones from the 1980s TV series Miami Vice). The Grand Theft Auto: Vice City rendition appears with a slightly worn appearance, while the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories appears with a seemingly clean appearance. The lightbar is the same as the main light bar of the GTA III iteration, but featuring red, blue and white colours (though they only flash red and blue lights).
During development, the vehicle was white with red and blue stripes along each side, resembling squad cars from the Miami Beach Police Department. In the PC version of GTA Vice City, a rare all-white variant can be found parked at random locations.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
The car is based on the Premier. It has a black/white paint scheme reflecting LAPD police cars from the era, equipped with a red/blue light bar (again flashing red and blue lights). The side has the Los Santos Police Department's initials, along with the seal of the San Andreas Police Department.
Grand Theft Auto Advance[]
The Grand Theft Auto Advance rendition of the Police is designed to bear a likeness to the Police from GTA III, with a generally rounded profile and a black-white paintjob. An identification number can be seen on the trunk.
Performance[]
3D Universe[]
Throughout all the 3D Universe games, the Police car is very fast, with excellent handling, and moderate durability. These stats make it great for drifting.
In GTA III, the Police car has suspension which is high and quite soft, and coupled with the high speed of the vehicle, body roll is rather noticeable and can be an issue, as if the player is rammed in a police car whilst turning at speed, the car will probably roll over.
Despite the fact that the Police car in Vice City has an AWD layout, it lacks the stability of other fast AWD vehicles in the game (namely the Deluxo and Comet). This is due in part to its soft suspension and poor roll resistance, as well as to its poor tire traction even at moderate speeds. As such, the Police is prone to roll over or spin at a moment's notice, so it may be best to avoid drastic and abrupt maneuvers while driving it.
In GTA San Andreas, the police car retains the same characteristics from previous games.
In GTA Advance, unlike other renditions, the car is substantially more speedy, with a top speed matched with that of the Banshee.
3D Universe Overview[]
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 124 / 200 (GTA III — GTA Liberty City Stories)
99 / 160 (GTA Vice City Stories) |
5 (GTA III — GTA Liberty City Stories)
4 (GTA Vice City Stories) |
Petrol | AWD (GTA III, GTA Vice City, GTA Liberty City Stories)
RWD (GTA San Andreas & GTA Vice City Stories) |
1600 / 3527 (GTA III — GTA Liberty City Stories)
1750 / 3858 (GTA Vice City Stories) |
N/A | N/A | 5 (GTA III — GTA Liberty City Stories)
4 (GTA Vice City Stories) |
N/A | AWD (GTA III, GTA Vice City, GTA Liberty City Stories)
RWD (GTA San Andreas & GTA Vice City Stories) |
Cannot be observed |
Gallery[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
Design[]
Version History[]
Variants[]
Image | Vehicle | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The San Fierro Police in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. |
Police (SFPD) | A San Fierro Police Department variant of the Police appearing in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. | |
The Las Venturas Police in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. |
Police (LVPD) | A Las Venturas Police Department variant of the Police appearing in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. |
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
- Give Me Liberty - The two police cars driving on the other side of the bridge towards the sight of the explosion, whose sirens can be heard when the player drives forward, will not chase the player like normal police cars, and the policemen inside them will never open the door.
- The Fuzz Ball - Two police cars are parked in front of the Old School Hall only during the mission.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- Cop Land - Some scripted police cars appear in the player's path before reaching North Point Mall.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
- The Introduction - Tenpenny and Pulaski's police car appears after they were walking in Los Santos, both entering and driving it away. After, the same car appears twice yet with the C.R.A.S.H. crew.
- In the Beginning - The C.R.A.S.H. officers stop the Taxi where Carl Johnson is, behind Johnson House, and take him for a ride around Los Santos before throwing him at Ballas territory.
- Home Invasion - If Carl makes too much noise after stealing at least three crates from Colonel Fuhrberger's house, the police will be alerted and one police car will arrive at the location.
- Burning Desire - Tenpenny's police car is seen parked outside the restaurant, Carl can steal it to reach the destination.
- Gray Imports - Tenpenny, Pulaski and Hernandez go away in their car after the cutscene.
- Reuniting the Families - Fourteen police cars chase the group and have to be destroyed by shooting at with an AK-47.
- The Green Sabre - After all Ballas members are killed, three police cars finish the clash between them and Grove Street Families members. Tenpenny later takes Carl to Angel Pine's medical center with his own police car and his C.R.A.S.H. mates.
- End of the Line - Two police cars are used by SWAT officers as cover, with a S.W.A.T. APC parked besides them to fight a group of Ballas members, while the others are used by Tenpenny's officers during the final chase.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
- Smash and Grab - LCPD officers arrive at the scene at the filling station and some police cars can be seen when reaching there.
- Hot Wheels - When Toni attempts to drive the Banshee to Vincenzo's point, two police cars arrive there.
- Don in 60 Seconds - A police car had spooked Salvatore and Toni when they get on the former's car.
- Dead Meat - Two police cars arrive at the Sawmills when Toni is about to drive the dead's van.
- The Guns of Leone - A police car arrives at the strip club after the last wave of Sindacco gang members are wiped out.
- Contra-Banned - A police car and an FBI Cruiser arrive at the drug deal when it is processing.
- Driving Mr Leone - Some police cars will try to chase Toni and Salvatore as a result for reaching the Portland ferry entrance.
- L.C. Confidential - Can be found at the crime scene at an overpass in Newport.
- The Shoreside Redemption - Toni steals a police car to protect the convoy carrying Salvatore. Another one got destroyed by the Sicilians.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- The Audition - Three police cars respond to the Downtown branch of King Knuts, the officers mistake Vic and Lance for the actual robbers.
- From Zero to Hero - Two police cars are seen as roadblocks at the end of the bridge in the Vice City Beach to prevent Vic and Lance from delivering the cocaine to the safe place.
- Smuggling - There is a chance that a four-star wanted level will be given and a police car will appear when the player loads the packages from the boat into the truck.
Locations[]
Police cars are usually parked in front of police stations and are often locked. They also can be seen patrolling the streets and during wanted levels, mainly on one and two stars.
Grand Theft Auto III & Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
- Police Station in Portland View, Portland.
- Rusty Brown's Ring Donuts in Callahan Point, Portland. (Liberty City Stories only)
- Police Headquarters in Torrington, Staunton Island.
- Police Station in Pike Creek, Shoreside Vale.
- Within Francis International Airport, Shoreside Vale, at a different location for each game.
- It is parked near the airport's helipad (III only).
- It is parked near the airport's control tower (Liberty City Stories only).
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City & Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- Police station in Washington Beach.
- Police station in Vice Point.
- Police station in Little Havana.
- Police station in Downtown.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
- Police impound lot in Pershing Square, Los Santos.
- Can be seen patrolling the streets and during wanted levels in Los Santos, mainly on one and two stars.
Rewards[]
Grand Theft Auto Advance[]
- Being a mid-sized car, crushing the Police will only award the player with a base amount of $532.
Trivia[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
- If the player looks carefully on the grille of the vehicle, one can see a blue oval manufacturer badge, which resembles the one which real-life car company Ford uses.
- The same badge was changed to red in the GTA Liberty City Stories rendition, possibly to give a more fictious appearance. This may have served as a forerunner for the HD Universe iteration of Ford, Vapid.
- GTA III police cars arguably have the most realistic sirens compared to the other renditions in the 3D Universe.
- The GTA III police car is equipped with a secondary light bar resembling a McDermott High Rise lightbar. These are actually used by the NYPD's Highway Patrol division.
- In the mobile version of GTA III, the most noticeable change on the car are the sirens, which is remastered.
- The siren sounds were re-used in another Rockstar game, Max Payne, aswell as its sequel, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.
- The police car was originally intended to sport a blue color scheme with white stripes, heavily reminiscent of the NYPD color scheme in the 1990s and early 2000s, however, this was changed shortly before the game's release, due to the real-world events of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. The vehicle's original livery was reused for the GTA Liberty City Stories rendition of the vehicle, although the black color scheme remains. The original blue and white police car can be seen during the introductory video in certain releases of GTA III, although a patch for the game corrected this on later copies. The changes in color and livery also occurred to the Enforcer.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- The police car was reused in Rockstar's Manhunt games. They only appear as static objects, as driving is not an intended feature in Manhunt. The main difference is that the car has a black and white paintjob instead of a green and white paintjob, along with slightly altered light bars, having a wide red light on the left and blue light on the right, similar to the GTA San Andreas iteration.
- Similarly, civilian versions can be seen across the game.
- In the Xbox and mobile versions, all of the license plates of the police cars read "VCPD 7".
- Its siren sounds were used again in the PS4/XB1/Windows versions of Grand Theft Auto V for the Ambulance.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
- The LSPD Car in most cutscenes involving C.R.A.S.H. is depicted with the rims of the police car and Taxi from GTA Vice City. This does not apply to the PS2 version since the rims of this police car is identical to the ones outside the cutscene.
- If the player in San Andreas were to turn on the Ninja Theme cheat, the Police Car will still appear but the car is completely blacked out thus making it a unique paint scheme. The player can keep it by simply stealing the car, turning the cheat off, and saving it in their safehouse's garage.
- In GTA San Andreas, if a civilian car or a taxi hits a police car, the siren will turn on and the officers will come out, then they will pull the driver out of their car, and then open fire at them, even if they are unarmed.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- In the game files, the Police is designed to spawn only with a single color scheme (-16,1). Negative color IDs are actually invalid, and the game just reads them as 0 instead. The crash particles of the car are green though, because of the set texture with which it spawns. However, by making use of the EC Black Conversion trick featured in the mission In the Air Tonight, the crash particles turn black.
See Also[]
- Squad Car - Grand Theft Auto equivalent.
- Copper - Grand Theft Auto: London equivalents.
- Cop Car - Grand Theft Auto 2 equivalent.
- Police Patrol - Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars equivalent.
- Police Cruiser - Grand Theft Auto IV & Grand Theft Auto V equivalent.