End of an Era: N.C. Police Department Says Goodbye to Last Crown Vic Cruiser

The Raleigh Police Department has retired its final Ford Crown Victoria cruiser, but the iconic patrol car will be preserved to honor the vehicle's legacy.

Source Officer.com News

Joe Vince

Nov. 13, 2026

2 min read

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The Raleigh Police Department has officially retired its last Ford Crown Victoria cruiser, ending the model's long run in the agency's fleet.
Rather than disposing of the vehicle, Chief Rico Boyce authorized preserving it as a historical piece to honor its years of service.
Once the dominant law enforcement vehicle across North America, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was discontinued in the 2010s, though a handful remain in service at some agencies.

A Raleigh police officer stands in front of the department's final Ford Crown Victoria cruiser, which is parked on a tree-lined street — Raleigh Police Officer J.C. Vucich stands in front of the department's final Ford Crown Victoria cruiser. A vehicle that once dominated police fleets across North America has reached the end of its service with the department, which will keep the decommissioned vehicle as a historical reminder.

A North Carolina police department retired its last Ford Crown Victoria cruiser this week, closing the chapter on yet another vehicle that once dominated law enforcement fleets across the county.

"It was a bittersweet moment for Officer J.C. Vucich as we said goodbye to a vehicle that served our Department for many years," the Raleigh Police Department announced in a social media post Thursday. "As we continue to move forward as a modern agency, we recognize and appreciate the tools, people, and moments that paved the way."

But this particular Crown Vic isn't head to the junkyard. Although the cruiser will no longer be a part of the official fleet, Chief Rico Boyce has authorized that the vehicle will be "preserved as a remembrance."

"While this vehicle will no longer be part of our fleet, it will remain an enduring part of our history," the department stated.

Starting in the late 1990s, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was the king of the road for North American law enforcement fleets. But that reign came to end in the 2010s when Ford discontinued the model. In 2023, the Crown Victoria earned the Best Police Cruiser Award from Haloid Fleet.

Although department's have been discontinuing the Crown Vic—switching to more modern and, in some cases, electric cruisers—some agencies still have a small number of the iconic vehicle in their fleets. For instance, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department stockpiled hundreds of Crown Victorias before they were discontinued, according to The Drive.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.