General Motors has began delivering its first 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) to law enforcement officers across the U.S. Among the first to receive GM’s new patrol car are police departments in Forsyth County, Georgia and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton said that after trying out the Chevy for a month his office decided to replace its current fleet of around 175 other patrol vehicles with Caprice PPVs.

“With its emphasis on the ergonomically designed seats for officer comfort, and enhanced safety features, the Caprice is a vehicle that is made for police work,” said Paxton. “We’ve had our vehicles for a month, and we’re sold. This will be a worthwhile investment.”

Another early adopter is Dennis Hogan, Fleet Services manager in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“We view the police vehicle as an extended office for our officers,” Hogan said. “We chose the Caprice, because it delivers optimal officer operational space, trunk and storage space, and generally provides our officers the most-suitable operating environment.”

The new Holden-based Caprice PPV is currently offered with a 6.0-liter V8 engine pumping out 355 horsepower and 384 lb-ft torque, but a smaller 3.6-liter V6 with direct-injection will join the range in the near future.

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