Yamaha Rhino
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

Information:

The Hickory Grove Division of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were lucky enough to receive a pair of Yamaha Rhinos that were donated by Yamaha.

Officer Brian Sanders and his partner Officer Jeff Bumgarner came up with the idea of using UTVs when looking at different ways to crack down on crime and Captain Glen Neimeyer and Sergeant Ojaniit agreed to the concept.

The Rhinos are deployed in high crime areas and allow officers to get behind and in between building where normal patrol cars cannot easily drive. Officers can also get from neighborhood to neighborhood through right-of-ways and cut response time in half.

Officers started using the Rhino’s in April of 2008 and in just over three months, they have logged over 800 miles and made 31 arrests. They average one arrest for every three hours of patrolling on a Rhino.

Twelve police officers are now trained to use the Rhinos.

Modifications:

They’re outfitted with blue flashing lights and marked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s logo. The Rhinos also have a hard-mounted lockable gear box, which hold a handheld spotlight and other tools needed for patrol.

More Photos:

2008 Yamaha Rhino Specifications:

Model: 2008 Rhino 700 FI Auto. 4x4

Vehicle Type: 4WD

Price: $10,699

Color: Hunter Green

Engine: Liquid-cooled with fan, 4-stroke; SOHC, 4-valves, all wheel braking

Displacement: 686 cc

Bore x Stroke: 102 x 84 mm

Compression Ratio: 9.2:1

Carburetion: Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI), 41 mm

Ignition: 32 Bit ECU

Starter: Electric

Transmission: Yamaha Ultramatic® V-belt (H/L/N/R)
Drive Train: Yamaha On-Command® push button 3-way locking differential, 2WD, 4WD, locked 4WD; shaft

Suspension: Front & Rear: Independent double wishbone with 5-way preload adjustment; 7.3 in. travel

Brakes: Front: Dual hydraulic disc, twin piston
Rear: Dual hydraulic disc

Tires: Front: AT25 x 8-12 NHS
Rear: AT25 x 10-12 NHS

Length: 113.6 in.

Height: 73 in.

Width: 54.4 in.

Wheelbase: 75.2 in.

Ground Clearance: 12.1 in.

Fuel Capacity: 7.9 gal.

Turning Radius: 153.5 in.

Load Capacity: 400 lbs.

Towing Capacity: 1,212 lbs.

Yamaha Rhino:

Links:

Yamaha Rhino Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

Yamaha Rhino
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department