A few people have asked me about this. I also posted it to the Phoenix thread.
At the moment for legal reasons and documents I had to sign, I am not able to post any other shot of this rig. This is Phoenix Police SAU-1 and is bascially a command unit but carries gear in the compartments. SAU stands for Special Assignments Unit (in other words SWAT). 1 driver is assigned to this unit during the day to respond it and all SAU members respond in their own vehicles.
SAU-1 is a 2005 ALF Eagle Rescue Master built in Florida.
[quote name='DAvid' post='41337' date='Oct 8 2006, 04:39 ']A few people have asked me about this. I also posted it to the Phoenix thread.
At the moment for legal reasons and documents I had to sign, I am not able to post any other shot of this rig. This is Phoenix Police SAU-1 and is bascially a command unit but carries gear in the compartments. SAU stands for Special Assignments Unit (in other words SWAT). 1 driver is assigned to this unit during the day to respond it and all SAU members respond in their own vehicles.
SAU-1 is a 2005 ALF Eagle Rescue Master built in Florida.[/quote]
Are they really that secretive about this truck. Sounds like police bullying and posturing to me.--cops LOVE to feel important.
Put it this way, at first, the PIO said chances were, I wouldn't be able to shoot it (he's been known to be an @#$%^&*) but said he would pass my request on to their (Phoenix PD) bureau of homeland security for approval. Of course before me, this rig has been on the news and the city cable channel and American LaFrance was out to shoot it for possible calendar use. They also had to sign release forms.
After being kinda given the run around, unknown to me, a friend of mine involved with EMS & PD contacted a friend of his whom guess what? was a Phoenix City Councilman. Things started to roll right after that and I got my shots. I will have to check to see if I can post the others.
The shot I posted was taken at the Phoenix Fire Dept shops called Resource Management. I happen to be down there one day and it was there. My friends weren't able to move it for me as they were busy so I shot it as you see. I thought if I was ever not granted permission to shoot it in a better setting and the correct angle, at least I had a shot of it. Not the greatest but thought it would have to do. PD didn't know I had this shot and couldn't do anything about it if they did find out.
David
[quote name='fyrfoto' post='41349' date='Oct 8 2006, 08:20 ']Are they really that secretive about this truck. Sounds like police bullying and posturing to me.--cops LOVE to feel important.[/quote]
Thanks for persevering the runaround and posting the photo.
On a side note it’s interesting how corporate minds change. At one time ALF said there’s no way will one see an Eagle in the police service. Thanks to Homeland Security all manufacturers have suddenly discovered “new” markets for their rigs.
As a TV news photographer myself, if they had me sign a release, especially to photograph a publically owned vehicle, for a legitimate news story, I know myself, my reporter, my ND would say thanks but no thanks, and walk away. I've never heard such a thing. Besides, it's a fully marked vehicle, that's going to be used for responses in public, and you're only shooting the non-descript outside. Id understand if you're photographing undercover FBI units, but this? What crawled up thier putukus and died?
Once the thing's in public, and in plain public view, it's open season to shoot the heck out of it.
The driver told me how the police dept was unhappy with the builders of police vehicles and they "wised" up I guess and asked the fire dept to help them spec a rig for them. Phoenix Police just received a light/air unit from Pierce on a Kenworth chassis.
Thanks for persevering the runaround and posting the photo.
On a side note it’s interesting how corporate minds change. At one time ALF said there’s no way will one see an Eagle in the police service. Thanks to Homeland Security all manufacturers have suddenly discovered “new” markets for their rigs.[/quote]
You got it!!! I agree and you couldn't be more correct. But it didn't go that way.
-David
[quote name='code20photog' post='41470' date='Oct 8 2006, 13:34 ']As a TV news photographer myself, if they had me sign a release, especially to photograph a publically owned vehicle, for a legitimate news story, I know myself, my reporter, my ND would say thanks but no thanks, and walk away. I've never heard such a thing. Besides, it's a fully marked vehicle, that's going to be used for responses in public, and you're only shooting the non-descript outside. Id understand if you're photographing undercover FBI units, but this? What crawled up thier putukus and died?
Once the thing's in public, and in plain public view, it's open season to shoot the heck out of it.[/quote]
Sounds like the "as advertised" run around. I love how now everyone has a "Department of Homeland Security". Another layer of inept government to suck up tax money and produce zero results.
The other thing that "amuses" me about situations like this is that John, myself and anyone interested with a camera have dozens of photos of the U.S. Capitol Police HAZ-MAT Pierce, as well as the FBI D.C. Field Office Pierce Command Center (which I might point out really IS an FBI vehicle as opposed to this thing) from Police Week in May. The FBI L.A. Field Office has a twin to the D.C. one (except it's blue) and it's made numerous appearances at open houses out there and it's usually all opened up for display.
PIOs in a Law Enforcement setting seem to serve little other purpose other than to tell you you can't do something you can do had you asked someone else. Some humorless drone stuck in a box with no windows who gets a power-rush by thinking he controls access to a piece of public property.
Figure out where the unit is stationed and who "commands" it. Start at the day shift driver and work your way up the ladder "backwards" dealing with the people who make day-to-day decisions and more than likely you'll get the photos you want, without signing anything. I know I've done that on a few things locally and the person who approves the photos is usually confused why your so frustrated when you get to them, as they don't realize someone within the bureacracy is making people jump through hoops of fire.
I had a dispatcher (of all people) toss me out of a small police department near Pittsburgh telling me I couldn't take photos because of departmental policy stating the only people permitted to do so were township employees (ie: the police officers) and the people who ran their website (which they don't even have). A quick chat on another day with the chief got me my photos and a befuddled look when I mentioned their "policy".
-- James
Webmaster
[url="http://www.policecararchives.org"]National Police Car Archives[/url]
[quote name='code20photog' post='41470' date='Oct 8 2006, 14:34 ']As a TV news photographer myself, if they had me sign a release, especially to photograph a publically owned vehicle, for a legitimate news story, I know myself, my reporter, my ND would say thanks but no thanks, and walk away. I've never heard such a thing. Besides, it's a fully marked vehicle, that's going to be used for responses in public, and you're only shooting the non-descript outside. Id understand if you're photographing undercover FBI units, but this? What crawled up thier putukus and died?
Once the thing's in public, and in plain public view, it's open season to shoot the heck out of it.[/quote]
Just dont try to make any DECALS from logos on rigs... Ask Rich B from ROADBLOCKERS about that issue!
I have just posted on the NYPD thread the circa 1994 ESS "truck" roster.
I didn't want to cross post!
BTW: after confusing the R & DM models I have made an appointment for an eye exam on the 11th. I hope that this will eliminate any more embrassing photo ID mistakes!!!!! LOL
Okay...balloons and SWAT don't mix but it's Saint Patrick's Day! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/police.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
Greenbelt Maryland (Prince Georges County) Police Rescue vehicle. I don't have a clue what it is as I am not up to speed on these beasts but I am sure someone here can fill in the details.
[quote name='Cota1992' post='44041' date='Oct 15 2006, 19:21 ']Okay...balloons and SWAT don't mix but it's Saint Patrick's Day! <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/police.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />
Greenbelt Maryland (Prince Georges County) Police Rescue vehicle. I don't have a clue what it is as I am not up to speed on these beasts but I am sure someone here can fill in the details.
' /> 
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