Irvine Police Gain Street Credibility With Tesla Cybertruck for DARE Program

When Irvine residents inevitably see a law enforcement Tesla Cybertruck rolling down the streets, the Irvine Police Department (IPD) wants them to get excited, not be fearful.

“We want them to come up to it and talk to the officers,” said Irvine Police Department spokesperson Kyle Oldoerp. “We want them to take pictures and post it on their social media.”

#IRVINEPDPIO – We are excited to unveil what we believe is the first police Tesla Cybertruck in the nation. The truck will support our Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and community outreach efforts. Details in the comments. #irvine @Tesla #Cybertruck #irvinepd pic.twitter.com/H9F20FbsMR

— Irvine Police Department (@IrvinePolice) October 8, 2024

Instead of being used as a patrol car, the Cybertruck will support the IPD’s community outreach efforts, which includes the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.

DARE, a federal initiative, aims to equip grade school, middle school and high school students with the skills to resist gangs, violence and substance abuse.

“The DARE truck was always the exciting thing in the 1980s that was parked in front of the school when it was announced that the DARE officer was there and it didn’t look anything like a police car,” Oldoerp told OrangeCountyLawyers.com. “It’s hoping to establish trust and communication with officers in an out of the box, unique way. It’s the same reason DARE officers wear a softer uniform a lot of times…a polo shirt and pants. It’s less intimidating to the kids than a police uniform.”

According to an IPD press release, police officers on horseback, working with support dogs, or driving a unique vehicle have always sparked positive conversations and promoted community interaction.

The Tesla Cybertruck weighs up to 6,898 lbs, has 67 cubic feet of lockable storage, a 6 x 4 bed and an 11,000 pound towing capacity.

“It draws the kids and, for instance, if they show empathy, responsibility and maturity in the classroom, they can win an opportunity to have lunch with DARE officers and to check out the Cybertruck,” Oldoerp said. “There are a variety of ways we’re going to try to get it to all of the schools so that the kids can interact and get excited.”

KTLA reported that the Cybertruck cost the IPD more than $150,000 and has been outfitted with police lights and communications gear that typical patrol vehicles have.

But the money spent on the Cybertruck could have been put to better use, according to critics.

Critics Cyberbully Irvine Police Department

For example, on X, formerly known as Twitter, @qige1863 wrote, “I hope you didn’t pay for it because taxpayers would not be happy” while Tracy Walder posted, “I grew up here. My parents still live there. What a colossal waste of their tax payer dollars.”

Oldoerp alleges that most of the opposing views are from residents who live outside of Irvine.

“We believe you can’t put a price on community interaction and community engagement and the opportunities of a police officer walking up to a bunch of kids and handing out stickers and having that moment, you can’t quantify that,” Oldoerp said. “It’s priceless.”

The Cybertruck, expected to save IPD on fuel costs in the long term, will have a longer shelf life than the average patrol car, which costs $116,000 and is functional three to 4 years.

“We’re anticipating that the Tesla vehicle will be in our fleet for about 10 years,” Oldoerp added. “Tesla estimated that over five years, the difference between electricity and gas is about $6,000.”

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