UP.FIT Debuts Tesla Model Y Juniper Patrol Vehicles

The Murphy Police Department, in partnership with UP.FIT, a division of Unplugged Performance, unveiled two 2026 UP.FIT Tesla Model Y Juniper patrol vehicles at a public ceremony attended by city leadership, officers and community members. Murphy is among the first law enforcement agencies to deploy the Tesla Model Y Juniper in active patrol service, reflecting the city’s commitment to officer safety, fiscal responsibility and forward-thinking governance, company officials stated in a press release.

“Today represents history and a very exciting day in the City of Murphy and the Murphy Police Department,” said Chief Jeff Gibson, who leads the department. “The police department was tasked with evaluating and developing a creative and innovative approach to the rising cost of vehicle operations, maintenance and fuel, while adopting an environmentally conscious model that sets a blueprint for the future. We are proud to present an electric vehicle option that delivers cost reductions in maintenance and fuel while being a partner in going green.”

UP.FIT Says Officer Safety Comes First

UP.FIT’s mission is for first responders to patrol in vehicles that offer the very best crash safety available. The Tesla Model Y has earned top safety marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other global safety agencies. By building on this safety foundation, UP.FIT patrol vehicles give agencies confidence that the men and women serving their communities are protected by the most advanced vehicle safety engineering on the road today, noted the release.

Projected Operational Savings That Fund Other Priorities

When assigned to a single officer patrolling approximately 42 hours per week, each UP.FIT Model Y is projected to capture $4,100 to $7,600 per year in operational savings compared to traditional gasoline patrol vehicles. In shared-vehicle scenarios logging 140 to 168 patrol hours per week, those savings grow to a projected $8,500 to $12,000 per vehicle per year.

In addition, UP.FIT Model Y patrol vehicles are expected to last approximately twice as long in the fleet as their gasoline counterparts—and potentially even longer, the company said. Electric drivetrains eliminate the idling wear that shortens the lifespan of internal combustion patrol vehicles, and the simplified mechanical architecture means fewer components subject to failure under demanding duty cycles.

A Collaborative Partnership Between UP.FIT & Murphy Police Department

The Murphy deployment utilized Enterprise Fleet Management for financing and fleet vehicle maintenance while UP.FIT handled engineering and upfitting the 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper vehicles into fully patrol-ready platforms. Chief Gibson credited the partnership and the dedication of Murphy’s officers and the city manager for making this first deployment a reality.

“I want to thank the fantastic men and women of the Murphy Police Department who put in countless hours of dedication and commitment for you to see and touch what you see today,” Gibson said. “Absent them, we would not be here. When we talk about relationships, they hold value, and they have purpose, and they have meaning. That is one of the best benefits of the City of Murphy—we recognize we are a collaborative community, and we work together for exceptional service models and success.”