Probably the oldest: this "Hi-Way Patrol" wagon is from the Mini-Tonka series of Jeep trucks and station wagons, introduced in 1963 (see Mini-Tonka Does the Full-Size-Jeep). This version first appeared in the 1965 Tonka catalogue.
This 1967 advertisement was saved by Butch Cudahy from the Milwaukee Journal, showing a price of $1.79.
See also a side view (60K JPEG) of Hi-Way Patrol No. 64 with the original box.
I guess the Willys Jeep Station Wagon can be squeezed in on this page, since although it was a popular police vehicle back in the day, there aren't a lot of scale models around.
One of the many versions of the Liberty Classics 1/25-scale Willys Panel Delivery coin bank made by Spec Cast is this Michigan State Police vehicle. The rear doors open to reveal a slot for inserting coins. The blue paint is close but brighter than Michigan State Police blue.
More finely detailed than the Liberty Classics bank, despite being in the smaller 1/43 scale, is this NEO model, circa 2017. It includes the distinctive Michigan light-up "STOP" sign on the hood. But this kind of detail comes at a price, which in this case is around US$80, and the paint is darker than MSP blue.
This archival photo confirms that the details of the NEO model are correct, but that the correct shade of MSP blue was lighter. The color was adopted in 1954, and is also known as Blue Goose blue (70K JPEG, courtesy Ionia Sentinel-Standard).
Best of Show, the German brand made in China, has a 1/87-scale version of the MSP Willys. Even in tiny HO scale the detail is there, and the MSP blue looks reasonably close. See also a rear view (110K JPEG).
A 2025 release from GreenLight Collectibles is labelled as a 2001 XJ, in their 1/64 "Hot Pursuit" Series 46.
Michigan bought a few Cherokees and Wagoneers for the State Police, but not enough for Chrysler to paint them in the custom Blue Goose blue. So this is actually pretty close to the real thing (270K JPEG) which was probably painted in Patriot Blue, used by Chrysler on many different vehicles for about a decade.
Lindberg released a plastic kit in 1996 for a Michigan State Police Grand Cherokee, in a big 1/20 scale. I'm not sure if the MSP ever used a ZJ -- not that I know of. The model parts (40K JPEG) appear to have been molded in something pretty close to Blue Goose.
It's been hard to keep up with all the Jeeps released by GreenLight Collectibles since 2011. In addition to all the Wranglers, CJs and even DJs, the XJ casting first appeared in 2021, in their
"Hot Pursuit" Series 38 (50K JPEG).
The California Highway Patrol Cherokee is pretty accurate to the 1993 prototype, down to the correct wheels and push bars. See also a rear view (60K JPEG). Thanks to Autumn Pillars for the photos.
Also in Series 38 was this NYPD XJ, a vehicle that was used in New York for many years, particularly by K9, mounted and park units. This one is described as a 1997, and GreenLight has actually given it the correct front end for the 1997-2001 models. Unfortunately they didn't include the red flashers in the front grille which many of the NYPD Cherokees had.
Another white one was the U.S. Secret Service XJ (160K JPEG) in the 2022 Hot Pursuit Special Edition set.
Announced for 2025 is a NY State Police 2001 XJ with a covered trailer, in their "Hot Pursuit Hitch & Tow" Series 1. The pre-release photos show it to be fairly accurate except for an indigo paint that is pretty far off the NYSP blue.
Now, incorrect paint wouldn't be a first for GreenLight, but what makes it surprising is that there are already several other NYSP vehicles in their catalogue, all of which appear to be accurate color-wise. Guess we'll have to wait and see -- sometimes these errors are corrected after they're pointed out.
Another 1/64-scale police XJ was released in 2022 as part of GreenLight's long-running Hollywood series. It's a 1995 Cherokee as seen in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds.
This remake of a 1974 heist film of the same name received negative reviews on its release in 2000, and although it made a lot of money at the box office it still lost money for the studio because of the high production costs (partly related to the number of wrecked cars.) Fifty expensive cars were stolen in the film, and the XJ of the San Pedro Harbor Police was possibly chosen as a comical contrast to those pricey rides.
The brief but memorable scene starring the Cherokee is seen here, as it chases the custom Mustang "Eleanor" and is about to get smacked by a wrecking ball (on the right side of the frame), ramming the XJ through the concrete wall.
It was a surprise in early 2023 when GreenLight and Johnny Lightning released almost identical 1/64-scale diecast models of the same North Carolina State Highway Patrol Cherokee. Was somebody lobbying both companies to do the NCHP XJ? They're seen here side by side in the Family Mart parking lot, in a photo by Phil's 1st Pix under CC.
The GL was in Hot Pursuit Series 43, and the JL was in American Heroes Release 3 (170K JPEG).
The Johnny Lightning version has the 1997-2001 Cherokee front grille. But by the late 90s, the NCHP was painting their XJs in a reversed color scheme (230K JPEG) so JL should have gone with that.
Some details on the JL casting were clearly intended for built-up, off-road models: the bull bar and winch, big fender flares, aftermarket wheels and a lift (although JL has also done other police versions.)
The GreenLight Cherokee has the correct front grille for a '95 model, the correct base-level wheels, plus more accurate graphics except for the missing "State Trooper" lettering on the front.
An actual NCHP 1995 XJ is seen here in a photo by Josh DeBord courtesy of the National Police Car Archives. Its light bar, and the lettering and all-gold seal on the door, were copied more accurately on the GreenLight model.
Overall I have to say GL is the clear winner. Plus you typically have to pay about twice as much for the JL because it comes in the American Heroes 2-pack with the Tahoe.
Another 2023 release from Johnny Lightning was a Miami Beach Police XJ pulling a dive boat. I don't know if it's based on an actual vehicle; not one that I've seen, anyway.
The JL website calls it a 1988 Cherokee, although the casting is clearly the 1997-2001 model. A nice touch not often seen on 1/64-scale diecasts is the opening hood (50K JPEG).
This Florida Highway Patrol K9 unit was a 2022 JL release, in an American Heroes 2-pack with a Texas Highway Patrol Chevy Tahoe. It's a reasonable effort at copying the real thing (180K JPEG) but again the JL casting is a later-vintage XJ with aftermarket goodies that aren't realistic for a police vehicle. Photo by Phil's 1st Pix under CC.
Majorette, a French company now merged with Solido, released a few "Sheriff" versions of their 1/60 scale XJ Cherokee #224. They all include a light bar, opening back hatch, and Sheriff tampos. One variation came as a "Mini-Base" set (30K JPEG) with a few accessories.
See also Derek's photos of the Majorette Sheriff XJ's at a rollover (30K JPEG) and a bridge accident (50K JPEG).
Majorette also did a Sheriff version of their 1/24 scale ZJ Grand Cherokee. This Sheriff's ZJ includes a light bar, opening back hatch, opening front doors, working front steering gear, and of course "Sheriff" tampos. It has Nevada plates "MD129".
Maisto chose an unusual police prototype for its big 1/24-scale WJ -- the Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana.
This is a nice China-made small diecast ZJ in the old NYPD blue livery.
Yatming model 827 is also a 1/64 diecast. It comes in this generic U.S. livery and a popular green and silver German Polizei version (50K JPEG).
Buddy L has had many ZJ Grand Cherokees, and these are two different scale versions of the same Grand Cherokee Police release. The larger is approximately 11 inches long (29 cm), and the smaller is is approximately 5 inches long (13 cm). Both are battery operated. See the smaller version in the package (60K JPEG).
Road Champs, over the years, has also had many 1/43 ZJ Grand Cherokees, including a number of Police (or Special Police) releases. These two Special Police releases are the Park Ranger and the SWAT Team.
See also three other Road Champs Police ZJ's: Lancaster City PA K-9, West Virgina State Police, and Dothan AL K-9 (90K JPEG), and one from the New York State Police (15K JPEG).
At the smallest end of the size range is the HO (1/87) scale Herpa ZJ, available in several emergency service paint schemes including this police version.
A 2006 Jeep Commander makes an appearance as a Sherrif's Patrol monster truck in "High Profile" model no. 12038, a 1/64 diecast made by Jada Toys in California. The model is also available as a Border Patrol vehicle (30K JPEG).
New to Matchbox in 2001 was a small diecast model of DaimlerChrysler's newest Jeep, known as the new Cherokee overseas, but labelled in North America as the Liberty. Early 2002 saw a police version quickly created for the Mega Heroes 10-pack (140K JPEG) of emergency vehicles. It carries a Sheriff's star and no lightbar.
Thanks to the late Mike Albright for providing lots of the photos and info for this page, and Butch Cudahy for the Tonka newspaper ad. -- Derek Redmond
Also on CJ3B.info, see more Police Service Jeep Toys.
And see full-size Police Service Cherokees.
See other Emergency Services Jeep Toys.
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