Mystery Police Car V2

[maus92]

A while back I posted a question about a mysterious Crown Vic that appeared to be a MSP car with a non-standard antenna arrangement. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera handy. But this time, I managed to snag a photo of another unidentified Crown Vic driving S/B on I-97.

The car has what seems to be 2 baseloaded VHF loband antennas mounted on top of the two rear fenders; an UHF whip on the trunk lid; an 800Mhz whip mounted in the center of the roof; and if you look closely, another UHF whip mounted on the roof just above where the interior light/rearview mirror might be inside.

Anyone want to take a stab at identifing the agency?

CA
Annapolis

 

[Dispatcher308]

Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Regional Supervisor or Office of the State Fire Marshall Vehicle. Im gonna go with #1

 

[Dank]

I would agree that it could be MSP. MSP still uses their 39 MHZ freqs so the lo band antennas are appropriate. One of them could be for a cb radio. In many counties MSP has a talk gropup on that couny's TRS system so an 800Mhz antenna makes sense as well. The antenna placement looks pretty close to what I have seen on marked MSP cars.

Who knows since the tag number is visable maybe the drive will answer your question.

 

[maus92]

I got a PM from some one who theorized that it was a "DOC" car, which I assuming he means Dept. of Corrections. I'm kinda liking the MIEMSS theory - one base loaded antenna could be for MSP/SYSCOM; the other for VHF hiband; the UHF's for medchannels; and the 800Mhz for the various TRS's.

But let's get more ideas!

CA
Annapolis

 

[organized_mayhem]

Could just be a private citizen that bought an old police car and threw a couple antenna's back in the holes or a ham radio operator thats done the same thing. My buddy does this all the time. The cars make you think its a cop but its not.

 

[Grog]

Did it swerve in front of any motorcycles?

 

[MCMD5]

I would agree that it could be MSP. MSP still uses their 39 MHZ freqs so the lo band antennas are appropriate. One of them could be for a cb radio. In many counties MSP has a talk gropup on that couny's TRS system so an 800Mhz antenna makes sense as well. The antenna placement looks pretty close to what I have seen on marked MSP cars.

Who knows since the tag number is visable maybe the drive will answer your question.

One sure way to find out is to go to MVA and get them to run the tag, if they still do this.

Looking at the tag it starts with CCL. I believe Maryland does not recycle numbers, when tags are turned in they throw them away and go to the next number. This means this tag came out in the mid 80's when we started with this color of tag. Do any government or federal agency's transfer tags from vehicle to vehicle or just get new ones? My guess would be they just get new ones.

So my guess this is a private citizen, maybe ham operator or radio hobbyist?

 

[Anand]

The red strobe on the rear deck makes me think Fire Marshall... In that area (97 / AACO in general) it would utilize the 800MHz for AACO TRS, VHF Low Band for MSP, and UHF for MTAP around BWI/Bay Bridge/Key Bridge

 

[Metro174]

Looking at the tag it starts with CCL. I believe Maryland does not recycle numbers, when tags are turned in they throw them away and go to the next number. This means this tag came out in the mid 80's when we started with this color of tag.

Actually, when they started this format, MVA started with the letter M. When they reached M again, they went to the new format 1AAA11. That tag is mid early to mid 90's. CCL is also a common letter combination for LE vehicles. My agency, Baltimore City and Baltimore County all have unmarkeds that start CCL. I'm sure some others do as well.

 

[ScanManQSL]

Did it swerve in front of any motorcycles?

That crazy guy had a dark royal blue Crown Vic... Is this his new car or has it been repainted.

 

[BillQuinn]

Seems like a normal citizen

looks like the car is one of a normal citizen's. Usually instead of vehicle saying on the trunk "Crown Victoria", police usually get the Ford Crown Vic that says "Police Interceptor" on the trunk.

 

[hill]

It is definitely not MSP, since all unmarked cars have the same antenna install and I see many Maryland State Police cars when out driving for my job. All unmarked MSP cars have the VHF-low on the left side of the trunk and a VHF-high band ¼ wave antenna in the center of the trunk. The ¼ wave VHF-High antenna is for the mobile extender. Some of the investigator/command staff cars don’t have extenders and only have a low band antenna on the left side of the trunk. I don’t think MSP currently has CB installed with upgrade that includes a Panasonic Toughbook computer. The older MSP cars have the mount on right side of the trunk that was the CB either plugged or capped.

The smart money goes to Dispatcher 308, since he is more in the know then most of the members on this Maryland Board.

Larry

 

[MCMD5]

Actually, when they started this format, MVA started with the letter M. When they reached M again, they went to the new format 1AAA11. That tag is mid early to mid 90's. CCL is also a common letter combination for LE vehicles. My agency, Baltimore City and Baltimore County all have unmarkeds that start CCL. I'm sure some others do as well.

You are right, I forgot they started at M.

 

[SHAKEY]

I'm 98% that this is a MEMA car, just my opinion.

1. all the antennas cover all the counties in MD and the ham bands.
a) the 800 x2
b) the 460
c) the VHF
d) the Low band

2. most MIEMSS cars have Tags that say "EMS" or "MIEMSS"
3. most MSP cars use Antenna Specialists bace loaded coils even for CB.
4. most State Fire Marshall cars are outfited by MSP techs (see # 3)
5. most MDT Toughbooks are running on Verizon cards, some on 800mHz

It could always be a Vol. Fire Co. Chief Squirrel who has some radio savey and feels better looking like a cop. he will have to have his car lettered when someone raises a question, due to state regs.

doesent anyone know someone who can run that tag???
I'm JWD or Ziggy wont mind!

what do you think 308 ???


AGAIN THIS IS ONLY OPINION.....IF I NEW FOR 100% I WOULD DEFANATLY TELL YOU ALL

 

[Dispatcher308]

I can say this is not a MEMA Car, when I worked there we only had one Crown Vic and it was Dark Blue, the rest of the MEMA Vehicles are SUV's

 

[Dewey]

I've never seen MD State place antennas on the roof unless they were Lojac.

Dewey

 

[Uttoxeter]

It could be a member of Shock-Trauma's Go Team. They ride around in unmarked vehicles as well. They have radios to cover all of the bands since they could potentially respond state-wide if helicopters were grounded.

On a side note, the fact that it doesn't say "Police Interceptor" on the back doesn't mean that it isn't one. The CVPI Street Appearance Package has the standard consumer chrome grille and the Crown Victoria badge on the rear, but otherwise has the full police package. The deciding factor would be whether or not it had dual exhausts (the CVPI does).

 

[ResQguy]

It could always be a Vol. Fire Co. Chief Squirrel who has some radio savey and feels better looking like a cop. he will have to have his car lettered when someone raises a question, due to state regs.
Care to quote the "regs" that say fire departments need to have marked vehicles? Ever been to PG County?

doesent anyone know someone who can run that tag???
Running tag numbers for no reason other than to see who owns a vehicle is usually frowned upon. Audits have been done in the past to dissuade those employees nosy enough to do it on a regular basis.

You are correct however about the Antenna Specialists equipment. I have never seen a non A/S antenna on any MSP car, marked or unmarked.
Also, the civilian that some of you have suggested might be the owner had a GREEN car. That is a subject better left alone.

 

[fd2119]

In looking at the rear deck light, it appears to be either a Code 3 AS-1 or a Whelen DashMiser. MSP used both of these lights.

 

[Dispatcher308]

FD2119 alot of agencies use those lights, like the entire state of maryland since they bought them in bulk off the same contract. I am sure that alot of local jurisdictions use those lights as well.