What officers want: More room, better ergonomics, and safer equipment placement

Today’s patrol vehicle is much more than transportation. It is a mobile office filled with technology that officers depend on every day. But as more equipment is added, agencies face a growing challenge: how do you create a workspace that improves efficiency without compromising safety?

A recent Police1 survey asked officers what they would change about their patrol vehicles. The top responses focused on improving the everyday experience inside the vehicle, including better seating and ergonomics (27%), more interior space (17%), improved console and workspace layout (16%), better equipment storage (13%), and better MDT placement (13%). (Police1) Patrol PC® is proud to provide hardware solutions that help agencies address these challenges.

These responses highlight an important point: technology is necessary, but how that technology is integrated into the vehicle matters.

How MDT Placement Impacts Officer Safety

The mobile data terminal (MDT) is one of the most important tools inside a patrol vehicle. However, its size and placement can affect visibility, comfort, and overall safety.

Patrol PC® designs its UltraRugged® RhinoTab® MDTs with a compact 12.1-inch display to provide officers with a functional workspace while helping maintain clear visibility through the windshield and side windows.

A properly positioned MDT allows officers to:

  • Maintain awareness of their surroundings
  • Keep a clear view during vehicle operation and traffic stops
  • Access important information without unnecessary movement or distraction

Through our partnership with Westin Automotive Products, Inc., our rugged mounting systems allow the MDT and keyboard to be positioned when needed or moved out of the way to maximize visibility. The system can also be positioned for use from either the driver’s or passenger’s seat, making it ideal for Field Training Officers (FTO) working with trainees or when a second officer needs access to the MDT.

This flexibility creates a workspace that adapts to the officer while helping maintain visibility, accessibility, and safety throughout the shift.

Reducing Clutter Through Integrated Technology

Modern patrol vehicles often contain multiple devices, each requiring its own mounting location, cables, and power connections. Over time, this can create a crowded workspace.

Patrol PC® helps reduce clutter by integrating additional capabilities directly into the MDT platform, including optional:

  • 2D barcode scanner for scanning applications
  • Front and rear cameras for capturing scene photos and documentation
  • FLIR thermal imaging camera
  • RFID reader
  • Fingerprint reader
  • GPS
  • 5G cellular connectivity

Integrated cameras, for example, allow officers to quickly capture images such as accident scenes, vehicle damage, or other areas of interest without needing an additional standalone camera for routine documentation.

By combining multiple capabilities into one rugged platform, agencies can reduce the number of devices competing for limited space inside the vehicle.

Building a True Mobile Workspace

A patrol vehicle should function as an extension of the station. Officers need a workspace that is organized, reliable, and designed around the way they work.

Patrol PC® focuses on creating a complete hardware ecosystem that supports this goal:

Designing Technology Around the Officer

The future of patrol vehicle design is not about adding more equipment, it is about integrating technology more intelligently.

Officers need vehicles that provide more usable space, safer technology placement, and easier access to the tools they rely on.

Patrol PC® is helping agencies create cleaner, more efficient mobile workspaces by designing rugged hardware solutions that improve organization, reliability, and officer safety in the field.

Industry Insight:
This article references findings from Police1’s survey, “What cops want in their patrol vehicles: More room, better seats and safer storage,” which highlights the challenges officers face with vehicle space, ergonomics, equipment placement, and workspace design. Patrol PC’s perspective focuses on how thoughtful hardware integration can help agencies address these challenges.

Need More Information?

At Patrol PC®, we understand that choosing the right in-vehicle technology is about more than specs. It’s about finding a solution that works in the field, every shift.

Whether you’re upgrading existing systems or planning for the future, our team is here to help you evaluate the right configuration for your needs.

What you’ll get:

  • Guidance on configurations and options
  • Help comparing PatrolPC® solutions to your current setup
  • Recommendations based on your operational requirements
  • Insight into connectivity, performance, and deployment considerations
  • Support planning for fleet-wide implementation

How it helps:

  • Make informed decisions with confidence
  • Ensure your system fits your real-world environment
  • Avoid over- or under-spec’ing your technology
  • Plan for long-term performance and reliability

No pressure. Just practical guidance to help you find the right fit.

Click here for more details → Explore the M4 with Patrol PC®

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