Take a Look Inside the ACPD’s New $1.6M Mobile Command Center

The Atlantic City Police Department has a brand-new tool for fighting crime in style. The ACPD took possession last week of its new $1.6 million mobile command center.

For that much money, it better come with a super cool nickname, and it does. Megatron.

We will run through the many features of the Megatron in a minute, but let me say first that it's almost certainly better than where you live. And probably cost a lot more, too.

How the ACPD paid for the Megatron

How the city of Atlantic City paid for this new machine is a popular question.

The number one comment in the ACPD Instagram post introducing the Megatron is, "pave Atlantic Avenue first".

The Press of Atlantic City asked AC Safety Director Sean Riggin about funding, and he said the new mobile command center was being paid for through the $2-a-day hotel room surcharge the city uses for public safety expenses.

That means it took 800,000 overnight visitors to Atlantic City, each with a one-night stay in a local hotel, to come up with the money.

So the Megatron better be something special, and it looks like it is.

What's in the Megatron?

According to Lynch Diversified Vehicles, which is featuring the Atlantic City Police Megatron on its website this month, this baby is state-of-the-art and ready for any crime-fighting mission.

Megatron would also be a killer vehicle to take on that killer cross-country trip to next year's Burning Man concert in the Black Rock Desert of northwestern Nevada.

Do you think there's any chance the city would lend me the Megatron for the trip?

If so, would they also spring for the gas? The estimate on Megatron's miles per gallon is 4 to 10 mpg, depending on how long you idle, and I tend to idle a lot.

Anyway, here's a rundown on some of the new gadgets that the Megatron offers.

A Freightliner M2 106 Plus chassis, with a Cummins L9 diesel engine w/ 360HP motor, Allison automatic transmission, and all-aluminum body construction.

It's all aluminum or nothing, as far as I'm concerned.

Other features include:

• Ducted HVAC system
• Prewired for communications radios
• Electric hot water heater
• 25kW liquid-cooled generator
• Large electronics rack
• Full vehicle surge suppression system
• Extreme Duty body storage compartments

Didn't I tell you the Megatron was better than the place you live? Wouldn't it be a great ride to Burning Man in this thing?

Hey, Mayor Marty is welcome to come along if he's up for it. We could have a cross-country Marty Party. It would be a beautiful day in the Megatron!

Watch this video from Lynch Diversified Vehicles to get a better idea of what the Megatron is packin'.