By Ron LaPedis
An officer asked to try out new gear would jump at the chance if it’s a sidearm or lighter/thinner armor. But ask them about running a new vehicle partition through its paces and you’ll probably get a puzzled look.
Let’s face it, vehicle partitions, like lights and a siren, are expected to be in an officer’s patrol vehicle and to work when needed.
Gamber-Johnson, an award-winning manufacturer of mobile mounting solutions, not only wants its partitions to be there and work, but they also want them to make life safer and easier for hard-working officers.
Founded in Wisconsin in 1954, Gamber-Johnson developed a niche designing and manufacturing high-quality vehicle mounts and docking cradles to safely hold electronic devices in vehicles.
Several years ago, they branched out to build complete bumper-to-bumper solutions for law enforcement vehicles, including secure storage, gun mounts, push bumpers and window guards – with an emphasis on the popular 2020+ Ford Police Interceptor Utility and 2021+ Chevrolet Tahoe. They also offer a vehicle base and multiple pedestal kit solutions for the Tesla Model 3.
Kari Haser, a Gamber-Johnson product marketer, tells Police1 that the newly designed partitions feature:
- Extended footwells at the bottom of the partition allow it to be mounted closer to the back seat. This new design maintains the full range of front-row seat motion to keep officers comfortable during transport.
- A large scratch-resistant center polycarbonate sliding window with a mesh covering and a positive-locking plunger-style handle. This design provides ample airflow from the front to the rear of the vehicle and maximum visibility through the rear window while maintaining officer protection.
- Slotted side wings that provide additional airflow to the rear passenger.
- A center recessed panel for convenient installation of weapon mounts and equipment, keeping them away from officers’ elbows.
- Smoother edges and no exposed hardware or protruding materials mean there is a lowered chance of injury or clothing snag while getting a detainee into the car, lessening the chance of an injury lawsuit.
- Sub-hour installation to keep your fleet on the street instead of in the shop.
Why spend time and energy on something so utilitarian as a prisoner partition? Jason Lewandowski, VP of engineering, told us, “We are all about safety and comfort for our ultimate end-user, the officer who spends most of their day in the front seat of a patrol vehicle. Our guide in the redesign was to increase officer comfort while driving and minimize snag points and the potential for injury while a detainee is being placed into the vehicle. By eliminating exposed hardware and making it faster and easier to install, we also are helping agencies upgrade their motor pool without taking vehicles out of service for extended periods.”
For agencies interested in a one-stop LE upfitting solution, Gamber-Johnson offers these packages in addition to their cradles, mounts and partitions:
2020+ Ford Police Interceptor Utility
- Low-profile, full depth, short, and standard console boxes
- Window barriers
- Aluminum push bumper with light bar and sidelight brackets
- Cargo partition - Mesh and Poly
- Flip-up trunk tray with gas piston assist and Trunk Box with leg kit
2021+ Chevrolet Tahoe
- Wide and narrow console boxes
- Window barriers
- Aluminum push bumper with light bar
- Cargo partition - mesh
- Trunk box with leg kit
Visit Gamber-Johnson’s web page where you can learn more and build a quote request to give to your closest Gamber-Johnson reseller.
About the author
Ron LaPedis is an NRA-certified Range Safety Officer, NRA and California DOJ-certified instructor, works a pawnshop gun counter, is a uniformed first responder, and frequently writes and speaks on law enforcement, business continuity, cybersecurity, physical security and public/private partnerships.