PHOTOS: Police and Fire vehicles are some of the most recognizable automobiles on the road. As we continue our Autos in the Archives series, we bring you some of our favorite images of Savannah’s public safety vehicles.
Nationally, the first motorized police vehicles were on the road by 1900, replacing bicycles and horse-drawn buggies as police officers needed a way to keep up with criminals who increasingly used automobiles.
The Savannah Police Department began integrating motorized vehicles into the force in 1913 with the introduction of motorcycles.
In 1911, the Savannah Fire Department ordered its first auto-combination chemical wagon from American LaFrance Fire Engine Company. It was so successful that the department ordered another 11 motorized apparatuses, making Savannah the first fully motorized fire department in the nation.