All-New Jaguar XJ Transforms Into Police Cruiser

Over the past eight years, the Dream Cruise Jaguar Police car has brought smiles and interest to millions of people as a tribute to fallen officers. In addition to being an employee of Jaguar of Troy, I also serve as an auxiliary police officer for the Hazel Park, Mich., Police Department, writes Joe Roeder, Service Consultant, Jaguar of Troy, Mich.

Eight years ago, a fellow officer, Jessica Nagel‑Wilson, was fatally shot in the line of duty. She was a valued officer to the city and we wanted to do something in remembrance of her. While trying to develop ideas for this, I realized that the annual Woodward Dream Cruise was about a month away and since there are always over one million people who attend the event, this would be a great opportunity to not only celebrate the life and service of Jessica, but also raise awareness of other fallen officers and the family members they leave behind.

We at the department thought that dedicating a police car and having it in the Cruise would be a great way to accomplish such a task. After the Cruise weekend, we soon realized it was a huge success!

In 2003, I decided to try and make this an annual event. Each year we would produce a special police car and dedicate it to any Michigan officers who had fallen in the line of duty. I contacted MI‑Cops (Michigan Concerns of Police Survivors), and explained to them what I was doing and asked if they would like to be involved. Without hesitation, they were on board to help in any way possible.

Meanwhile, I had just started working at Jaguar of Troy that year and thought to myself, “What if we took a Jaguar and striped it as a police car for this year’s Dream Cruise?” Knowing that a high‑end luxury car always “turn heads,” I immediately went to work to make it happen. My dedication and hard work paid off as the annual Dream Cruise Jaguar Memorial Police car was born.

Ever since that year, Jaguar of Troy, MI‑Cops and others have helped me put this together. Each year, we list names of those officers who have fallen in the line of duty, along with the MI‑Cops logo. It is always an honor for me to pay tribute to those who risk their lives to protect all of us and I hope to continue this tradition for many more years to come. Without the help of the MI‑Cops, Jaguar of Troy, Marcie at Majik Graphics of Clinton Township, Keith Wallaker and Code 3 at Cruisers of Brighton, Mich., none of this would have been possible. We were all beyond excited and grateful to have a 2011 XJ as this year's Dream Cruise Jaguar Memorial Police car!