{"id":37124,"date":"2026-08-10T20:14:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T15:14:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=37124"},"modified":"2026-08-10T20:14:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T15:14:40","slug":"lapd-rolls-out-the-rumbler-siren-some-fear-acoustic-assault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=37124","title":{"rendered":"LAPD rolls out the Rumbler siren; some fear &#8216;acoustic assault&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-element=\"story-body\" data-subscriber-content=\"\">\n<p>Los Angeles police are rolling out a new siren, and you don\u2019t just hear it. It rattles your bones.<\/p>\n<p>When the New York Police Department started using the Rumbler in 2009, one opponent called it an \u201cacoustic assault\u201d on citizens. But L.A. Police Cmdr. Blake Chow says the new low-frequency siren is the solution to a dangerous problem. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a story that he says plays out for officers far too often. They\u2019re on their way to an emergency with the siren blaring, but a driver fails to clear the path for the police cruiser.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had to find a way to get these drivers\u2019 attention,\u201d said Chow, a  36-year veteran and head of the LAPD Support Services Group, which manages core logistical, technical and records infrastructure. <\/p>\n<p>The booming, 10-inch speaker device is intended to connect with drivers who, in the view of law enforcement, are yielding less frequently to emergency sirens. The department announced last month it was installing the Rumbler in a few black-and-white vehicles before a larger expansion.<\/p>\n<p>For Richard Tur, the <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.noiseoff.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>founder of NoiseOff<\/u><\/a>, an organization that tracks and offers noise pollution solutions, it doesn\u2019t seem necessary for bystanders to feel a siren \u201cpounding through your body.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-center=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e9ba8df\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/320x208!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/bbb53ec\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/568x369!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ff22de3\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/768x500!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ef97119\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/1080x703!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/020fa74\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/1240x807!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/487b5e6\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/1440x937!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f0cdeb0\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/2160x1405!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"LAPD Commander Blake Chow, left, and Greg Field, director of police transportation, Motor Transport Division.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a7382ff\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/320x208!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/36df062\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/568x369!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/337c644\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/768x500!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ade73b8\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/1080x703!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ed2ac9a\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/1240x807!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1beab71\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/1440x937!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1520f66\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/2160x1405!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1301\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c243975\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x3695+0+0\/resize\/2000x1301!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>Los Angeles police officials Cmdr. Blake Chow, left, and Greg Field believe the low-frequency Rumbler siren will reach drivers who either ignore or can\u2019t hear regular sirens.<\/p>\n<p>(Allen J. Schaben\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-rumbler\" class=\"subhead\">What is the Rumbler?<\/h3>\n<p>The <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fedsig.com\/product\/rumbler-low-frequency-speaker\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Rumbler is a low-frequency siren<\/u><\/a>. A standard kit includes two subwoofers, an amplifier and a timing module, with costs ranging from $600 to $1,000 per unit, depending on accessories.<\/p>\n<p>Its manufacturer, <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fedsig.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Illinois-based Federal Signal<\/a>, says the siren is \u201chighly effective in dense urban environments with heavy vehicle traffic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Rumbler interacts with a standard police siren, which generates <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extremetacticaldynamics.com\/knowledge-base\/emergency-vehicle-sirens\/police-sirens\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>around 110 to 120 decibels<\/u><\/a>, and amplifies that sound through its speakers in eight-second intervals. Whereas the blare of a regular siren may bounce off vehicles and buildings, the low-frequency tones \u201chave the distinct advantage of penetrating solid materials, allowing vehicle operators and nearby pedestrians to feel the sound waves,\u201d<a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/files.plytix.com\/api\/v1.1\/file\/public_files\/pim\/assets\/f0\/e4\/79\/60\/6079e4f0302a91ac42e7f633\/texts\/02\/9e\/c3\/64\/64c39e020e7893715e5eeb76\/Rumbler-Siren-Data-Sheet_M2045.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"> the manufacturer says<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Rumbler then plays a prerecorded message, such as \u201cMove to the right,\u201d in English and Spanish, eliminating the need for the officer to do so, according to Chow.<\/p>\n<p>At the LAPD, the Rumbler\u2019s deployment comes with that of a sound and light syncing system. That allows several police vehicles to broadcast a synchronized public safety announcement while flashing the same light-signal pattern.<\/p>\n<p>Greg Field, a 27-year LAPD veteran and director of the Police Transportation Motor Transport Division, noted the sync systems are useful for mass messages, such as at a fire evacuation or an unlawful assembly.<\/p>\n<p>These enhancements, because of  vendor agreements, require no extra funding, according to Chow.<\/p>\n<p>The Rumbler technology isn\u2019t new. Field said  it has  proved effective in cities across the country. The New York Police Department <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/SB10001424052748703745704576136653983779530\" target=\"_blank\">first installed the system in 2009<\/a> in about 150 vehicles before expanding to 500 by the following summer. The Long Beach Police Department also installed the Rumbler into patrol vehicles in 2009, employing the system in most units until 2023. That\u2019s when the department changed to the Howler, whose manufacturer touts its \u201cdeep, penetrating tones.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on user feedback, the consensus among officers is that the Whelen Howler is more effective than a traditional siren at getting the attention of drivers,\u201d a Long Beach Police spokesperson said  in a  statement.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"cars-are-becoming-more-soundproof\" class=\"subhead\">Cars are becoming more soundproof<\/h3>\n<p>Today\u2019s drivers aren\u2019t hearing sirens, law enforcement agencies contend, because modern vehicles are adept at noise-blocking. <\/p>\n<p>Chow said he routinely speaks with officers who tell them that pedestrian vehicles aren\u2019t stopping during chases and other emergency situations despite blaring sirens.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes three or four cars go before everyone stops,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople don\u2019t hear the sirens during pursuit \u2014 maybe they\u2019re not paying attention \u2014 and you risk cars getting hit in intersections or other places.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-center=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/9b36625\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/6d55dd5\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b766cd8\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c3cff5d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1080x720!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ac2ca78\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1240x826!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/0e3ac77\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1440x960!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/8a3f411\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/2160x1440!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"Greg Field, director of police transportation, Motor Transport Division, shows off the Federal Signal Rumbler.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/2df3e96\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/2c5eaeb\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/568x379!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ecc2200\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/768x512!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/33a4654\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1080x720!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 1080w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d923f38\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1240x826!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 1240w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d83ac01\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1440x960!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 1440w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/27291df\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/2160x1440!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg 2160w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/87aad52\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/2000x1333!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fb6%2Fce1e0c5f4169a1404a23b2f075ba%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-04.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>Greg Field, director of police transportation, Motor Transport Division, shows off LAPD\u2019s adoption of the Federal Signal Rumbler and Federal Signal Sync Module system at the LAPD Motor Transport Division in Los Angeles on July 28.<\/p>\n<p>(Allen J. Schaben\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Decades ago, road noise and car noise could make quite a racket in a car\u2019s interior.<\/p>\n<p>The 1970s Chevrolet Light Utility Vehicle itself could register <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.caranddriver.com\/reviews\/comparison-test\/a42859506\/1980-mini-trucks-compared\/\" target=\"_blank\">a noise level of 86 decibels<\/a>, above <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/noise\/prevent\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">OSHA\u2019s 85 dBA safety level<\/a>, with extended exposure potentially leading to high blood pressure, tinnitus, cardiovascular disease  and hearing loss.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s tough to hear a police siren if your car has made you deaf. By comparison, modern-day insulated car interiors offer aural bliss, but they\u2019re dampening the sound of emergency sirens, law enforcement agencies maintain. <\/p>\n<p>Newer cars and trucks employ <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/carbuzz.com\/car-advice\/active-road-noise-cancelation-in-your-car-all-you-need-to-know\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>opposite frequency technology<\/u><\/a>, which lowers road noise, silicone-based coating on door seals that cuts virtually all high-frequency whistling, and <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12937624\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>noise-dampening designs on windows<\/u><\/a>, to name a few technologies.<\/p>\n<p>Upscale vehicles such as the 2025 BMW SUV X7 40i, the Volvo X90 Twin Motor Performance and Lexus TX 350 Luxury all scored <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/carconfections.com\/all-car-confections-sound-level-readings-master-list\/\" target=\"_blank\">under 50 decibels<\/a>, meaning road noise in the vehicle\u2019s interior was the equivalent of hearing the dishwasher running from another room.<\/p>\n<p>Even more modest vehicles, such as the 2025 Kia K5 (51.1 decibels) and the 2024 Hyundai Sonata N-Line (51.9 decibels), were close behind.<\/p>\n<p>Tur, the NoiseOff founder, was one of the first community advocates to sound the alarm over the Rumbler. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTalk to New Yorkers who live near police stations and they\u2019ll tell you it\u2019s a nightmare,\u201d he said. \u201cThe police use the Rumbler to enter the department, to back out of the department; it\u2019s not just a casual use.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>An inquiry to the NYPD was not returned.<\/p>\n<p>Tur said that even though the speakers are front-facing, the siren blast is omnidirectional, meaning even those moving the opposite way can feel the Rumbler. <\/p>\n<p>Tur credits the 360-degree blast to its original inspiration. The Rumbler is the dream child of a Florida Highway Patrol officer inspired by the \u201cbass-thumping audio\u201d from local cars, <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetmagazine.org\/issues\/41\/prochnik.php\" target=\"_blank\"><u>according to a report from Cabinet Magazine<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Federal Signal did not respond to questions from The Times about the siren.<\/p>\n<p>Although most of the focus around the Rumbler is on officers and drivers, Hamid Khan, an organizer with the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, a community group that campaigns against over-policing, said local neighborhoods were being forgotten.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re missing the point,\u201d Khan said. \u201cWhat is the impact of this thing on us, the people who live in these communities where the Rumbler will be used?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Khan is worried the siren will be abused in poorer neighborhoods. He pointed to another noisy enforcement method, the <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2023-12-13\/la-city-controller-releases-lapd-helicopter-audit\"><u>LAPD\u2019s helicopter usage<\/u><\/a>, in which most calls are not \u201chigh priority\u201d and often target communities such as South Los Angeles, <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/controller.lacity.gov\/landings\/lapd-helicopters\" target=\"_blank\">according to a 2023 audit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He said such additional noise \u201cultimately affects sleep cycles, hearing and inflicts trauma\u201d upon local residents.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"lapds-rumbler-deployment\" class=\"subhead\">LAPD\u2019s Rumbler deployment<\/h3>\n<p>Chow says the Rumbler has been installed on 20 vehicles, with another 100 being added to the system soon. He hopes that around 2,000 of the department\u2019s 5,000 vehicles will be deployed with the Rumbler within the next couple of years.<\/p>\n<p>Field said the first units with the new siren systems will police the downtown Civic Center area. Assistant Chief Emada E. Tingirides, director of the Office of Operations, ultimately will decide which vehicles follow, according to Field.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is about protecting both the public and our officers,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Rumbler system provides an earlier, more noticeable warning that an emergency vehicle is approaching, giving motorists and pedestrians additional time to recognize the danger and respond safely.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Los Angeles police are rolling out a new siren, and you don\u2019t just hear it. It rattles your bones. When the New York Police Department started using the Rumbler in 2009, one opponent called it an \u201cacoustic assault\u201d on citizens. But L.A. Police Cmdr. Blake Chow says the new low-frequency siren is the solution to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37125,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/6b7f19d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5680x2982+0+357\/resize\/1200x630!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F7f%2Fd3b91bbc43d2b63aaedb4fd1f985%2F1564481-me-lapd-adopts-signal-rumbler-sync-module-ajs-10.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37124\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}