Vehicle usage by state and agency:
Note: This list is copyright by the author. It may be printed or saved for personal use, but may not be published in any form without the permission of the author.
Special Service Mustang usage by State Police, Highway Patrol, and Federal Agencies
By Charles Ricks
The following table represents years of research, yet it is still a work in progress. Much information remains to be discovered. In some cases, better sources of information will come to light and the data will change. However, this table represents the best information available at this time on the usage of Special Service Mustangs by state and federal authorities.
How is this information useful? It can be a part of the puzzle in helping to determine if a given car served with a given agency. It can also help to gauge the relative rarity of a given car. At this time, it appears that somewhat over half of the 15,000 (estimated-not verified.) SS Mustangs made served with statewide agencies. It also vividly points out that there is not an endless supply of SS Mustangs. Many were crashed in service, and many more survived years of police duty only to be wrecked or scrapped after being sold at auction. These cars are only going to become more collectible as the years go by.
If you have any information to add to
this table, whether new data or possible corrections to existing data, please contact me
at 
Thanks, Charles Ricks
Key:
| ( ) | See notes below regarding that state or agency. |
| F | Denotes probable first year Mustangs were used. |
| 0 | Denotes no Mustangs used that year. |
| X | Denotes Mustangs used that year, but numbers unknown. |
| " " | Blank space means Mustangs may have been used, but we don’t know yet. |
| . | . |
| . | Under the "Used?" column – |
| Yes | Denotes Mustangs were used, but number and years unknown. |
| No | Denotes Mustangs were not used. |
| XX | A number in this column is the total number of Mustangs used by that agency. |
Usage Numbers:
| . | Used? |
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
Alabama State Troopers (1) |
31 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Alaska State Troopers |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Arizona Highway Patrol (2) |
186 appr. |
0 |
13 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
13 |
0 |
Arkansas State Police (3) |
2-3? |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
California Highway Patrol (4)(20)(24) |
2508 |
400 |
0 |
250 |
155 |
169 |
175 |
260 |
210 |
275 |
230 |
228 |
150 |
Colorado State Patrol (18) |
Yes |
0 |
6 |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Connecticut State Police (5) |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Delaware State Police |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Florida Highway Patrol (25)(26) |
1663+ |
0 |
40 |
50 |
66 |
147 |
X |
270 |
354 |
196 |
179 |
197 |
164 |
Georgia State Patrol (6) |
Yes |
0 |
F |
. | . | . | . | . | . | ..X |
.X |
. | . |
Idaho State Police |
Yes |
0 |
F |
. | . | ..X |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Illinois State Police |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Indiana State Police (7) |
40 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Iowa State Patrol |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Kansas Highway Patrol (8) |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Kentucky State Police |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Louisiana State Police(21) |
34 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
0 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
Maine State Police |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Maryland State Police |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Massachusetts State Police (9)(22) |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | .X |
..X |
. | . | . | . |
Michigan State Police |
34 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
Minnesota State Patrol |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
Missouri State Highway Patrol |
71 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
13 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
Montana Highway Patrol (10) |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Nebraska State Patrol |
331 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
36 |
30 |
30 |
69 |
41 |
35 |
Nevada Highway Patrol (11) |
Yes |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
X |
. | . | . |
X |
. | . | . |
New Hampshire State Police |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
New Jersey State Police |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
New Mexico State Police (12) |
7 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
New York State Police |
50 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
North Carolina Highway Patrol |
Yes |
0 |
F |
. | X |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
North Dakota State Patrol (13) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Ohio State Highway Patrol |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Oklahoma Highway Patrol |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Oregon State Police (23) |
Yes |
0 |
0 |
F |
X |
X |
. | . | X |
. | . | . | X |
Pennsylvania State Police |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
Rhode Island State Police |
? |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
South Carolina Highway Patrol |
Yes |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
65 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
South Dakota Highway Patrol |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Tennessee Highway Patrol (14) |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Texas Highway Patrol |
1080+ |
1 |
24 |
100 |
.XX |
..XX |
230 |
180 |
140 |
204 |
0 |
0 |
200 |
Utah Highway Patrol (15) |
Yes |
0 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
.X.X |
. | . | ...X |
. | X |
...X |
. |
Vermont State Police |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Virginia State Police |
7 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Washington State Patrol |
222 |
0 |
30 |
50 |
0 |
30 |
45 |
22 |
34 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
West Virginia State Police |
No |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
Wisconsin State Patrol |
37 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Wyoming Highway Patrol (16) |
20 |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
USAF |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
DEA |
151 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
13 |
11 |
5 |
11 |
21 |
32 |
19 |
14 |
USBP (17) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
FBI (19) |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
ATF |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
USPS |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | X |
INS |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | X |
RCMP |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | .X |
. | X |
US Customs |
Yes |
. | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | ..X |
. |
. | . |
Notes:
| (1) One of the Alabama Highway Patrol Mustangs resides at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama. |
| (2) Arizona Highway Patrol estimates that they purchased 20 Mustangs each year between 1984 and 1991. |
| (3) Arkansas State Police tried 2-3 Mustangs, but they were not liked by the troopers who were issued them(!) |
| (4) Total number includes five 1982 hatchback Mustangs (part of original 400) which may not have been actual SS Package Mustangs. Total does not include 1982 California Highway Patrol Mustang E851963 which is a prototype car. |
| (5) Connecticut State Police used Mustangs for several years during the 80’s, perhaps as early as 1983. Usage may have continued into the early 90’s. Total number may be around 50-60. |
| (6) Georgia State Patrol may be the fourth largest user of SS Mustangs. Numbers used may be around 500. |
| (7) Indiana State Police has one of their red 1989 Mustangs in their museum. |
| (8) Both Kansas Highway Patrol and the turnpike troopers had some Mustangs. The turnpike cars were in various colors. |
| (9) Those used were probably all unmarked for covert traffic enforcement. |
| (10) Montana Highway Patrol tried out one 1982 Mustang but never bought more. |
| (11) Nevada Highway Patrol tested three Mustangs in 1985 and bought more after that. |
| (12) In 1990, two were fully marked, four were semi-marked (all traffic enforcement). |
| (13) North Dakota State Patrol had one fully marked Mustang. |
| (14) Tennessee Highway Patrol tried a Mustang but never bought more. |
| (15) Utah Highway Patrol may have actually used Mustangs almost exclusively for a time. |
| (16) Wyoming Highway Patrol bought 10 Mustangs two different times, but not sure which years. One set was between 87-89 for sure. |
| (17) The US Border Patrol Mustang was fully marked and used for drug interdiction. It now resides in the USBP Museum in Texas. |
| (18) Verified by DSO paperwork from CSP, c/o M. McCullers. |
| (19) There are several cars at the FBI academy in Quantico which have the vinyl interior, verified c/o M. McCullers. |
| (20) Jim Dingell of PPI confirms there were 406 cars ordered for CHP in 1982. These were spread over two DSO's with all cars being coupes. |
| (21) Jim Dingell of PPI confirms there were Louisiana SP did place an order in 1986 for coupes. These have been confirmed by bucktags. |
| (22) One Mass State Police SSP surfaced in 2007 under DSO 11-0461, AOD. Confirmed with bucktags and VC label, Pete Teigeler. |
| (23) Under DSO 74-0074, Feb 1984, 29 units were placed by Oregon State Police. Verified by Order Copy, VC label info c/o Mark Musch. |
| (24) Order copy information obtained for DSO 72-0086 indicates the 1984 CHP number may be 259, not 250. |
| (25) Order copy information obtained for DSO 24-0599 confirms quantity of 66 FHP units in 1986. |
| (26) Order copy information obtained for DSO 24-0236 confirms quantity of 3 unmarked FHP units in 1988. These are the earliest known for FHP. |
Last Update 02.10.07