The First City to Use Police Cars

Akron, Ohio, USA, is widely recognized as the first city to put a motorized police patrol car into service, debuting an electric “patrol wagon” in 1899. This pioneering vehicle marked a turning point in urban policing by replacing the horse-drawn patrol wagon with a battery-powered, purpose-built unit.

How Akron Pioneered the Motorized Patrol

At the turn of the 20th century, Akron was a fast-growing industrial center with emerging expertise in rubber and early automotive technologies. Local engineering talent and civic support converged to create a practical alternative to horse-drawn patrols, culminating in the Akron Police Department’s 1899 launch of a dedicated electric police vehicle.

Design and Features of the 1899 Akron Police Car

From contemporary accounts and city histories, the Akron patrol wagon was engineered to improve response times and provide officer and detainee safety. The vehicle’s specifications and equipment reflected the unique demands of policing at the time.

• Powertrain: Battery-electric, notable in an era before gasoline cars were dominant.
• Performance: Reported top speed around 16 mph (26 km/h) and a range of roughly 30 miles (48 km) per charge.
• Equipment: An electric gong (an early siren), headlamps, a stretcher, and a secure compartment for detainees.
• Local manufacturing: Built in Akron, drawing on local craftsmanship and early automotive know-how; often attributed to a design led by local engineer Frank Loomis.
• Cost: Frequently cited at about $2,400 in 1899—a substantial municipal investment for the time.

Together, these features made the Akron vehicle a functional prototype for what would evolve into the modern police car: a dedicated, outfitted platform for patrol, transport, and emergency response.

Why Akron, and Why Then?

Akron’s rapid industrialization, proximity to the nascent tire industry, and a civic appetite for innovation helped propel the city to the forefront of motorized policing. Electrically powered vehicles, common in early urban transport experiments, were a logical starting point for a municipality seeking reliability and lower maintenance than horses, without the noise and fumes of early gasoline engines.

What Happened Next: Early Adoption Elsewhere

After Akron’s breakthrough, other departments explored motorized options in the early 1900s. Widespread adoption took time, influenced by budgets, terrain, road quality, and evolving technology.

1. Early 1900s: Major U.S. cities—such as New York and Detroit—gradually acquired motor vehicles for selected units, escorts, and specialized patrols.
2. 1900s–1910s: Departments experimented with gasoline-powered cars as internal-combustion technology matured and offered greater range and speed.
3. By the 1910s: Patrol cars, motorcycles, and trucks became increasingly common in urban policing across the U.S. and parts of Europe.

This gradual rollout reflected the broader motorization of cities, as agencies learned which vehicles and configurations best fit their local needs and budgets.

Common Misconceptions

Because many big-city police departments popularized motorized patrols, some attributions get muddled. It’s useful to clarify what Akron did first versus what later departments did at scale.

• New York City: A pioneer in many policing innovations, but its motor fleet grew after Akron’s 1899 debut.
• Detroit: Closely tied to the auto industry and an early adopter of specialized vehicles, but not the first to field a police car.
• London and other European cities: Introduced motor vehicles in the early 1900s, with broader deployment following improvements in roads and engines.

These cities were instrumental in expanding and standardizing motorized patrols, yet historical records credit Akron with the first operational police car.

Why It Matters

The Akron experiment didn’t just replace horses—it introduced a new policing platform. The concept of a dedicated, outfitted vehicle for patrol and transport shaped everything from response times and officer safety to how departments coordinate across larger urban areas. Today’s patrol cars—with radios, computers, and protective features—trace their lineage to that first electric wagon.

Summary

Akron, Ohio, was the first city to use police cars, placing an electric patrol wagon into service in 1899. Built locally and equipped for patrol, transport, and emergencies, it demonstrated how motorized vehicles could transform policing. Other cities followed in the early 1900s as technology improved, paving the way for the modern patrol car that remains central to police operations worldwide.