Westin Public Safety Division: Protecting Those Who Protect Us

Every year, patrol vehicles get more sophisticated. (Take, for example, the standard drivetrain on the 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility is a 318-hp 3.3L V-6 hybrid that is 41% more efficient than the outgoing model!) But despite this progress, Government Fleet Magazine reports that up to 90% of fleet vehicles still need some form of upfitting. Remember, it’s not only the lawman who has access to modern technology—so do criminals. That means, public safety agents need equipment that can not only keep up with those less inclined to follow society’s rules, but they also need a way to safely stop, detain, and transport them. Given the current public health and safety climate, it’s an appropriate time to study the vital role of the aftermarket not only in fashion, but in function.

If you’ve looked at Westin Automotive’s heavy-duty exterior accessories and thought they bore an uncanny resemblance to the aggressive push bumpers on law enforcement vehicles rolling around your town—you’re not imagining things. The California aftermarket manufacturer you turn to for steel replacement bumpers, running boards, hitch steps, winches, and more for your own trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs, also has an entire product division dedicated to high-quality safety modification kits for government agencies: the Westin Public Safety Division.

Ever wondered what actually goes into upfitting a law enforcement vehicle?

It involves much more than simply installing a barrier between the front and rear seats, that’s for sure. From innovative push bumpers and headache racks, to unique interior equipment like special window guards, door cover panels, and seat-belt systems, the Westin Public Safety Division (a segment of Westin Automotive Products) specializes in creating protective and functional active-duty vehicle equipment for the public safety sector.

Every single item must undergo rigorous testing to ensure it can stand up to the pressures of tactical maneuvers, everyday wear and tear, and defiant perpetrators who would rather not be sitting in the back seat of a police cruiser. And with accessories serving popular models like Ford Police Interceptor sedans and SUVs, the F150 Police Responder, Dodge Charger Pursuit, Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and more, it’s likely you’ve seen a Westin Public Safety Division product in your rearview a time or two…

The crux of the Westin Public Safety lineup is its Elite front-end protection system, consisting of three parts.

Push Bumper

The Push Bumper Elite forms the main component. This unit helps stop vehicles that are fleeing from police. It consists of two 4-gauge HRPO steel uprights coated in 3/4” wide rubber strips and connected by a pre-drilled center cross plate that can be customized by mounting extra lights or speakers. Depending on an agency’s specific needs, an interchangeable light channel can mount to the top for even more functionality. It accommodates up to four emergency lights from Federal Signal, Code 3, SoundOff Signal, or Whelen.

Recently, Westin Public Safety Division also added a “Push Bumper EliteXD” to the lineup, which adds a removable full punch plate grille. Vehicle-specific for a clean finished  look, the Push Bumper EliteXD also features an extra wide 4-5/8” stylized and pre-drilled center cross-plate with a significant surface area for top-mounting of LED lights or speakers. Plus, all exposed fasteners are black-plated stainless to ward off rust and corrosion.

PIT Bar

The PIT Bar Elite builds upon the bumper by adding two 7-gauge HRPO steel horizontal bars to either side of the main unit. These bars are coated in the same 3/4” wide rubber strips as the Push bumper, plus plastic end caps for a clean finished look.

Reinforced by heavy duty HRPO steel brackets, the PIT Bar bolts directly to a Westin Push Bumper Elite or EliteXD at the upper bumper level. Its main function is to provide optimal “roll-off” for the best PIT maneuver possible.

Check out the PIT Bar Elite during field testing in the video below.

Wing Wraps

The third add-on in the package are Westin’s Elite Wing Wraps. They essentially connect the Push Bumper and Pit Bar into a more cohesive single-piece unit. In addition to providing the best overall look and fit, the Elite Wing Wraps also offer added front-end and headlight protection.

Attaching to the Push Bumper Elite/Elite XD with a 7-gauge plate, the Wing Wraps feature 1-1/2” diameter vertical support bars and welded cross bars that minimize vibration typically encountered at high speeds and, more importantly, absorb impact in the event of a collision.

Westin Public Safety Division also utilizes some of Westin Automotive’s more popular replacement bumpers that you often see on run-of-the-mill civilian vehicles, such as the HDX Bandit Bumper and Outlaw Rear Off-Road Bumper. Similarly, don’t be surprised to find other stylish and functional Westin accessories pop up on law enforcement vehicles like running boards, hitch steps, and LED kits.

Real-Deal Cop Car Accessories

Exterior accessories help turn that regular old Ford SUV into a legitimate pursuit vehicle but when it comes time for capture, it’s what’s inside that counts. Westin Public Safety Division’s new Defender Series tackles real-world dangers that LEOs face when apprehending suspects.

For example, the Defender Prisoner Seat ensures quicker suspect loading, thanks to increased room over traditional back seats. More importantly, its flat, crevice-free surface eliminates the need to search for dangerous contraband or missing evidence. Its ABS plastic construction allows for safer and more thorough biohazard cleanup.

Similarly, steel Defender Series Window Guards and ABS Defender Door Cover Panels create a secure, confined passenger compartment that keep suspects safely contained in the backseat. Defender Series Front and Rear Partitions offer the same functionality, sporting 20% more viewing area than the competition.

Have you ever considered the threat an officer faces simple buckling in a passenger? Reaching over a person who is inarguably experiencing a really bad day can manifest in some serious bodily harm. The Defender Ready-Buckle Seat Belt System addresses this concern by using an innovative design that relocates the retractor buckle nearest to the occupant’s shoulder.

Westin Automotive consistently meets and exceeds changing Public Safety demands. With 40+ years of quality engineering under its belt, you can expect the same kind of dedication in your Westin aftermarket accessories as well.