The Chief also had some comment on the "labyrinthine-like" navigation and audio interface screen in the XLR. I believe it went something like this; "for those of us on the information super cul-de-sac, the map, stereo and heating controls made using the
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| "For those of us on the information super cul-de-sac, the map, stereo and heating controls made using the police lap top seem like an etch-a-sketch." (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
police lap top seem like an etch-a-sketch." (If you've never had the pleasure or pain of surfing the police computer, from what I have been led to believe, it's a complex, multi-layered series of programs that would bewilder Bill Gates - and one you wouldn't want to find your picture in). Although the XLR brings much strength to the offender apprehension aspect of policing, it falls dreadfully short in the area of offender transportation. It is commonly known among the members of the Vancouver Police Department that Chief Graham may well be the first officer on-scene at the next volatile call, and that Graham won't hesitate in tackling the bad guy and shackling him in a set of steel bracelets. Unfortunately any bandits lucky enough (or should I rephrase that to read unlucky enough) to be driven to prison in a
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| Although he'd always be first on the scene, Chief Graham lamented that the XLR didn't have nearly enough room to accommodate all the patrol equipment. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Cadillac XLR may find themselves stuffed into a very small trunk. As the Chief puts it, "one prisoner could be tied up in the passenger seat but fitting one into the limited space in the trunk would be a bit of a struggle." Beyond its limited ability to accommodate more than one prisoner at a time, Chief Graham also found the XLR to be stingy on equipment carrying capacity. He says, "Storage was a bit of a challenge - what with the laptop, shotgun rack, pepper spray holder, box of road flares, extra boots, emergency blankets, cold weather clothing, prisoners etc. I had to get a small half ton just to follow me around with my equipment."
