More than 50 Albuquerque police officers will be getting new wheels by the end of the month.
Starting this weekend, all of the police department's 52 sergeants assigned to supervise beat cops will be issued new Chevrolet Tahoes.
The sport utility vehicles run on a mix of ethanol and gasoline.
Currently sergeants drive white unmarked Ford Crown Victorias.
The Tahoes will be marked and will have "Sergeant" written on the back to let the community know who is in charge.
"This way, if someone has a question or a problem, they will know who's boss," Police Chief Ray Schultz said.
Inside, the SUVs will be equipped with an arsenal of less-than- lethal weapons such as stun devices and bean bag shotguns, bulletproof shields commonly used by officers entering buildings when a shooter is inside, and equipment to set up a command center, such as dry erase boards.
The SUVs will also have computer systems that can digitally read driver's licenses and large "push bumpers" to move crashed vehicles off the road.
The new vehicles cost the department $50,000 each. The current Fords used by the supervisors run about $48,000, Schultz said.
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