Miami Beach Police Showcase Rolls-Royce Recruitment Vehicle, Angering Everyone

The Miami Beach Police Department has revealed its newest recruitment tool — a Rolls-Royce modified with MBPD graphics and flashing lights. 

Miami Beach Police shared the news over X (formerly Twitter) by stating the “MBPD and professional staff exemplify the highest standards of dedication and quality policing in our unparalleled commitment to the residents and visitors we serve. We are thrilled to introduce this stunning addition to the MBPD recruitment team.”

But the department likewise noted that it doesn’t own the Rolls, as it’s technically on loan from Braman Motor Cars. MBPD took time to point this out, stating that the dealership “sponsored all costs associated with this project.” 

South Florida police departments have been expressing recruitment concerns for over a year. But the issue is actually fairly widespread, with most of the country reporting difficulties hiring new officers. The reasons are many but have primarily been attributed to cuts made during the pandemic and the fact that the police aren’t all that popular with the public these days. Many now see officers as enforcers of the state, rather than someone who is there to protect and serve the public. 

Regardless of why, departments have been doing whatever they can to boost recruitment and this Rolls-Royce is Miami’s latest effort. However, the MBPD has taken some pretty fierce criticism over a decision in 2023 to launch a $2-million project to create a “Real Time Intelligence Center” that allows police to actively monitor nearly 1,000 cameras situated across the city. Locals claimed they wanted more and better trained police officers, not more surveillance via police drones and street cameras. 

“This is top-of-the-line. This is the best you can get as far as it relates to vehicles. The police department is the best there is in the country,” Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones told local outlet WSVN 7 News. “Recruiting police officers in this country today is a difficult thing to do. Using this car to help us do recruitment is gonna be great.”

The vehicle in question is a 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost and, despite numerous outlets claiming it retails for over $250,000, you can easily find one in good condition for less than half that. But it does come with a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 producing 563 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque, so you’re at least getting a lot of muscle for the money until you get that first repair bill. 

While it may not be brand new, Rolls-Royce is synonymous with opulence and that’s presumably what the police department was trying to convey as he catches some eyes. 

However, the whole scheme feels a little goofy. What would someone tell their friends when asked why they became a cop? That they wanted to join a department that once borrowed an extravagant luxury car? 

The comments on the recruitment scheme were mostly negative and a little confused. Many accused the department of wasting money on the car, not realizing that the MBPD had to borrow the vehicle. Others criticized the partnership the department made with Braman Miami or asked if this was a joke mocking the police in Dubai. While there did appear to be some support for the recruitment drive, those individuals were very clearly in the minority. Frankly, the only winner in this seemed to be the dealership that loaned the department the Ghost, as the related attention probably resulted in loads of free advertising.

[Image: Miami Beach Police Department]

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