Raleigh Police Retire Final Crown Victoria Cruiser
The department's last Ford Crown Victoria will be preserved as a remembrance rather than kept in service.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Law Enforcement
The Raleigh Police Department has retired its final Ford Crown Victoria cruiser from its fleet. Police Chief Rico Boyce authorized the vehicle to be preserved as a remembrance.
Why it matters
The Crown Victoria was long the standard police patrol car in North America, so its final retirement marks the end of an era for local law enforcement. For Raleigh residents, it signals the department's continued shift away from legacy vehicles toward its current fleet.
The Raleigh Police Department has formally removed its last Crown Victoria from active duty, with the vehicle designated for preservation. Records do not state the retirement date or whether any other Crown Victorias remain in the department's inventory.
The players
Raleigh Police Department
The municipal law enforcement agency serving the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, which retired its final Crown Victoria cruiser.
Rico Boyce
The police chief of the Raleigh Police Department who authorized the retired cruiser to be preserved as a remembrance.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The largest sheriff's office in the United States, which stockpiled hundreds of Crown Victorias before the model was discontinued.
The details
Ford discontinued the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor in the 2010s, after it had dominated North American law enforcement since the late 1990s. The retired Raleigh cruiser will no longer be part of the official fleet and will instead be kept as a remembrance under Chief Rico Boyce's authorization.
Timeline
Late 1990s: The Crown Victoria becomes the dominant North American police cruiser.
2010s: Ford discontinues the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
2023: The Crown Victoria receives the Best Police Cruiser Award from Haloid Fleet.
Legal Context
The retirement follows the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor's discontinuation in the 2010s, after the model had become the dominant law enforcement vehicle in North America from the late 1990s. A small number of Crown Victorias remain in service at some agencies, so Raleigh's move reflects a broader fleet turnover rather than a sudden change.
The retirement does not change service for Raleigh residents, since the cruiser is leaving the active fleet rather than being replaced in a way that affects response. Residents who want to follow fleet decisions can track departmental announcements directly.
The takeaway
Vehicles that once defined a service can become historical artifacts within a few decades. Agencies often keep retired units as a way to recognize the equipment's role in their history.
Further reading
Explore more Law Enforcement coverage from across the region to see how agencies are updating their fleets.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Officer.
