11 Jan 2024

Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, announced the delivery of a C-44X-4 mobile command vehicle to the St. Petersburg Police Department in Florida, USA.

Sold through Pierce and Frontline Communications dealer, Ten-8 Fire and Safety, the highly customized and advanced mobile command vehicle will enhance public safety operations in one of Florida’s most densely populated counties.

C-44X-4 mobile command vehicle delivered

Assistant Chief - David Gerardo of the St. Petersburg Police Department, stated "We were drawn to Frontline Communications because of their reputation for high-quality products. Their expertise enabled us to design a versatile unit tailored for a range of operations from special event command to disaster responses."

The communications capability built into the unit will be particularly useful to us"

The feature Chief Gerardo places the highest value on is operational versatility. He continued, “Frontline helped us design a unit that could be used for all manner of law enforcement operations, including special event command and control, crime scene management, and disaster and high-risk response operations. The communications capability built into the unit will be particularly useful to us.”

Features of mobile command vehicle 

St. Petersburg Police Department’s new Frontline Communications C-44X-4 mobile command vehicle features:

  • Freightliner M2-106 chassis with a GVWR of 54,600 lbs.
  • 25 kW generator
  • Four slide-outs
  • Eight workstations
  • Sharp vision color backup camera system
  • Additional 50-gallon fuel tank
  • Extron 16x16 video switcher
  • Two over-the-air TV tuners for local TV stations
  • 52-port network switcher
  • Wi-Fi cellular router

Robust response capabilities

For many years, Ten-8 Fire and Safety has served the St. Petersburg community"

For many years, Ten-8 Fire and Safety has served the St. Petersburg community, and this collaboration marks the expansion of our relationship and commitment to continuing to support the St. Petersburg Police Department for many years to come,” said Andy Callaway, Regional Vice President – Southern U.S., Frontline Communications.

He adds, “The entire truck-building journey, from initial discussions to the final product, is not only a collaborative endeavor, but also a friendship-forming process."

mobile command vehicle for St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, the fifth-largest city in Florida, faces unique challenges due to its dense population and vast waterfront park system, which hosts numerous events throughout the year.

The decision to purchase the Frontline Communications mobile command vehicle addresses these challenges, ensuring robust response capabilities and proactive planning for varied law enforcement operations.

UASI grant funds

Notably, the vehicle's funding comprised 60 percent municipal budget funds and 40 percent federal Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant funds, highlighting the combined efforts to improve community safety.

"We eagerly anticipate using this state-of-the-art vehicle to enhance our community service. This command vehicle is not just an addition to our fleet but a testament to our commitment to the safety and well-being of St. Petersburg residents," Chief Gerardo added.