City Rescues Rescue Vehicles 

The newest vehicle in the Edmond Police Department’s fleet is a classic car. It’s not equipped with the latest crime-fighting technology. It doesn’t even have air conditioning. But the purpose of the vintage 1941 Ford Tudor is clear—to start conversations. 

“I’d call this car an ice-breaker,” Officer Randy Payne said. “It’s only been at public events for a few weeks, and so many people have talked to me about it; people who might never have talked to an officer before.” 

“The car is a tool for helping someone feel comfortable approaching an officer,” Chief J.D. Younger said. “Talking about a car leads to conversations about life and kids. Trust with public safety officials is built through these simple interactions at coffee shops, schools, and car shows, not during traffic tickets or crime reports.” 

Edmond’s First Police Car 

When Chief Younger joined Edmond eight years ago, he noticed a photo of an early 1940s police cruiser displayed in an office. The caption read: Edmond’s First Police Car. As a self-proclaimed “history nerd,” he did some investigating. 

“There’s a 1930s newspaper article in the Edmond Sun referencing a police scout car––so that caption was wrong,” he said, “but the photo is the first-known published image of an Edmond police car. I thought it would be cool to still have that car.” 

After some musing, Younger approached Bruce Graham about finding a similar car to restore. Graham, who manages the city’s fleet, is a car buff himself. He enlisted help from another enthusiast in public works, Bobby Masterson, and they identified the car as a 1941 Ford. 

Two years ago, a very similar car surfaced on Facebook for $10,000. “An 85-year-old man in Louisiana was selling the car,” Younger said. “When communicating through technology became too challenging for the gentleman, Bruce contacted the local police to explain why we wanted it. Luckily, the family liked the idea.” 

Graham drove a trailer to Louisiana and was happy to find the car running and in good condition, with a recently refurbished interior. He and Masterson rebuilt the flathead V8 engine as a side project when time allowed. 

Edmond is the car’s fourth owner. It was first purchased by a woman in Missouri who kept it for 40 years. It later changed hands twice before ending up in Louisiana. 

Old-Style Driving 

Only a handful of officers are authorized to drive the old-time car––mostly because so few know how to drive a manual. “Not all officers would enjoy it. Nothing’s powered. No roll-down windows or air conditioning,” Payne said. “The car is a little finicky, but I’m getting the hang of it.” 

“It has a three-speed manual transmission meant for cruising, so I had to keep the clutch pushed down during the LibertyFest parade,” he added. 

“I view the car as a unique form of police work,” Payne continued. “It’ll mostly be used for public relations at ceremonies and events like the Route 66 Centennial, but we might occasionally park in front of a coffee shop, too.” 

“This car is so nostalgic. It symbolizes a time when life was slower. Although Edmond has an eye to the future, the community also appreciates its past,” Younger said. “Every time someone says, ‘That’s a neat car,’ it’s a conduit for conversation.” 

The oldest fire engine in the Edmond Fire Department dates back to 1929. Chief Lothar Smith traded in a horse-drawn pumper wagon and paid almost $9,000 for Edmond’s first “horseless” fire truck. 

Nearly 100 years later, although no longer in service, it remains part of the fire department’s fleet. Old ‘29 is now reserved for delighting the public at city events such as car shows, Touch-A-Truck, and the LibertyFest parade. The current Fire Marshall, Jesse Benne, enjoys the crowd reaction when he drives the old truck, but he wouldn’t describe the driving as easy. 

“It’s huge and loud. Everything vibrates and rattles,” Chief Benne said with a laugh. “It’s a cool old truck– it has an open cab, a synchronized clutch, and no air conditioning.” 

Saved From the Scrap Pile 

The engine barely escaped the junk yard after it was deactivated in 1966. A men’s social club took over the truck and drove it in parades, but the truck did not fare well under their care, so the fire department reclaimed it, with intentions of fixing it up again. An eager Boy Scout troop offered to tackle the remodel, and Old ’29 was disassembled, but the project proved too big for the scouts. The truck and its parts rusted away in the yard of a firefighter for years. 

No one could quite stomach the idea of hauling it off to the scrap yard, so in the early 1980s, the truck once again landed in the city garage. The shop superintendent, Dave Smith, convinced his workmen to restore the exterior for display, but after spending hours on repairs and searching for authentic parts, the team found the determination to get Old ’29 running again. Lothar Smith provided its original bell, and the manufacturer, Seagraves, sent detailed images of the truck’s original gold trim patterns. By 1984, Old ’29 was ready to begin touring in parades again, and continues to do so today. 

A Pair of Trucks 

In 2024, the Edmond Fire Department added a new old truck to its fleet. Private citizen, Robert Williams, was downsizing to a smaller home in Edmond. Earlier in his life, Williams had fully refurbished and modernized a 1936 Dodge Fire Truck that he had purchased in Grand Rapids. Williams offered to donate the vehicle to the fire department as a special events truck. 

“Mr. Williams hopes it will be used for years to come,” Chief Benne said. “He was looking forward to seeing it driven down the road in this year’s LibertyFest Parade.” 

Although the 1936 Dodge is just a few years younger than the 1929 truck, Benne says the drive is completely different. “It’s been retooled with disc brakes, so it stops on a dime. It also has regular tires, power steering, and an automatic transmission. Seriously, the difference between the two is like driving a Model T versus a modern truck.” 

The public can expect to see both of the vintage fire engines making appearances around Edmond. Benne and the other drivers are gratified by the reactions from people, especially youngsters, whose eyes light up at the sight of the massive trucks. “At car shows, it’s a big no-no to touch other people’s cars, but I get to say, ‘Sure, you can touch it.’ They’ve survived nearly 100 years. These trucks are fireman-proof, so they are certainly kid-proof!”