Most police departments (highway patrol, sheriff, etc.) will send out bid requests when cars are needed.
A typical request will be like: 20 cars, 108” wheel base (or longer), black with white doors (or whatever), A/C (and so forth).
Whichever dealership (broker, or whatever) brings in the lowest bid, gets the deal. Typically, most year Chrysler’s can be obtained with a police package (and some Fifth Aves are AHB equipped, for body guards, for diplomats, and so forth) - but generally the Dodge or Plymouth models were cheaper in the long run.
In Oklahoma county, OK, a member of sheriffs dept can purchase a personal car (capable of a police work load), the county will pay to get the police equipment added, paint/stickers applied, and the person and drive the car full time and get paid mileage and gasoline charges (within reason).
I have even seen some drug seizure vehicles conscripted into police cars.
I suspect this is either a tribute car (most likely) – or one of those special cars mentioned above (less likely)
The VIN might not tell a person that it is an “police car” except for the trim level (second digit on ’80 and older cars)
BudW (not a police car expert)
