LAPD equips 20 patrol cars with low-frequency “Rumbler” siren system

The Los Angeles Police Department announced a pilot program that installs the Rumbler, a low-frequency siren, on 20 black-and-white patrol cars. The device integrates two sub-woofers, an amplifier and a timing module, and works alongside a standard siren to emit deep tones that can penetrate vehicle bodies and building walls, letting nearby people feel the sound waves. It also broadcasts prerecorded commands such as “Move to the right” in both English and Spanish, eliminating the need for officers to issue verbal directions.

Costs per unit range from $600 to $1,000, and the system includes a synchronized sound-and-light feature for coordinated public-safety announcements. LAPD leaders cite the Rumbler as a response to the growing number of pursuits—4,203 since 2018—with a quarter resulting in injury or death and many bystanders also harmed. The first equipped cars will operate around the downtown Civic Center, and senior officials will determine subsequent vehicle assignments. Critics, including noise-pollution advocate Richard Tur, warn that the omnidirectional blast could be experienced as an “acoustic assault” by nearby residents.