Ford makes police car doors that stop armor-piercing bullets

Ford makes police car doors that stop armor-piercing bullets

DETROIT — It’s a first for police cars: doors that can protect against armor-piercing bullets.

The doors are designed to stop a .30-caliber bullet shot from a high-powered rifle like an AK-47.

Between 5 and 10 percent of police vehicles Ford sells have the optional ballistic protection, which costs around $1,500 per door.

[...] Randy Freiburger, a Ford engineer who works with police customers, said the company was getting frequent requests for better protection, particularly from police in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Other automakers, including Land Rover and Audi, make vehicles from high-strength steel that can protect against armor-piercing bullets.

If bullets strike twice in the same spot, which is rare, the panels will still offer some protection, Ford says.

[...] they’re destroyed when police cars are scrapped so they can’t get into criminals’ hands.