By Steven Symes 
There’s some real muscle in the Ohio State Highway Patrol fleet these days, thanks to the addition of a Dodge Hellcat. Before you worry about the hot Challenger and how much the state paid for it, know it was free.
Someone in a Volkswagen Jetta actually tried outrunning a cop.
That’s right, the Mopar muscle car was obtained through criminal forfeiture as ordered by a judge. We know that’s controversial as some feel such actions are legalized theft. But we do have trouble feeling sorry for drug traffickers and others when they lose their toys to the cops.
Before you’re worried this Hellcat is going to show up in your rearview mirror because you went 5 mph over the speed limit, know the plan isn’t to have it patrolling the state’s highways.
Instead, it’s more of a PR vehicle or community engagement at events around the state. That’s what often is done with seized performance cars, although sometimes law enforcement agencies will use them to patrol.
But in this case, the OSHP Dodge Challenger Hellcat will be showing up at community events as an outreach tool. After all, cool cars are great for getting people to talk to you, an icebreaker, if you will.
Plus, it should work as a solid recruitment tool after the whole defund the police movement did incredible damage to public perception of law enforcement.
Of course, when OSHP revealed the Hellcat on social media, people showed up with all kinds of hot takes. Some seemed upset they had been ticketed for speeding in the past, while others tried framing troopers as thieves or wantonly spending taxpayer dollars.
And of course, the Ford boys expressed disappointment, saying OSHP should’ve purchased some Mustangs instead. That has been somewhat of a trend among law enforcement agencies in the US.
Image via Ohio State Highway Patrol