Suzuki Jimny joins NSW Police Force, obviously not for high-speed pursuits

Even after around six years on the Australian market, the current-generation Suzuki Jimny still gets looks – and that’s part of the reason it has joined the NSW Police Force.

Affectionately referred to as Sergeant Jim, this liveried version of the more practical five-door Jimny XL – which was launched here late in 2023 – has joined the Lake Macquarie Police Crime Prevention Unit (LMCPU).

Sergeant Jim has joined the force “to enhance and promote community engagement with the NSW Police Force at various school and community events across the police district”.

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It’s part of a sponsorship agreement with Suzuki Australia, which makes clear the vehicle comes at no cost to the community.

“Sergeant Jim is more than just a vehicle, it’s a conversation starter,” said Suzuki Australia general manager Michael Pachota.

“In times when national crime rates are a topic of discussion, we saw an opportunity to contribute positively at a local level.”

The Crime Prevention Unit works to prevent, disrupt and respond to crime across the Lake Macquarie Police District, which covers approximately 648 square kilometres and has a growing population of over 221,000 residents.

“Sergeant Jim’s livery will hopefully be a great conversation starter while on display and get more people, especially younger people, comfortable with approaching their local police,” said Lake Macquarie Police District Commander, Superintendent Tracy Chapman.

“The purchase of this vehicle comes at no cost to the community thanks to the generosity of Suzuki Australia in providing this vehicle for our community engagement activities.”

This isn’t the same Tracy Chapman who sang about having a Fast Car, as the Jimny XL is anything but. In CarExpert instrumented testing, we recorded a 0-100km/h time of 14.27 seconds in an automatic Jimny XL.

Of course, this police version of the iconic compact off-roader isn’t intended as a pursuit vehicle, but rather a rolling billboard of sorts for officers looking to connect with the community and prevent crime. Given its cute looks, this liveried Jimny XL appears well suited to that role.