Report: Unmarked cop car used Google Maps logo without permission

An unmarked Philadelphia police vehicle bearing a Google Maps decal has Google’s people in a tizzy, but local cops are largely mum on how or why it got there.

The website Motherboard first broke the story on Thursday, writing that the Philadelphia Police Department had indeed admitted that a mysterious surveillance vehicle had a Google Maps logo on its window.

Philly.com reported that a University of Pennsylvania faculty member spotted the vehicle Wednesday near the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Tweeted out a photo with the caption, “WTF? Pennsylvania State Police license plate reader SUV camouflaged as Google Street View vehicle.”

A spokesperson for the police department reportedly sent Motherboard the following e-mailed response.

“We have been informed that this unmarked vehicle belongs to the Police Department; however, the placing of any particular decal on the vehicle was not approved through any chain of command.Once this was brought to our attention, it was ordered that the decals be removed immediately.”

Google has since launched an investigation.

An unmarked Philadelphia police vehicle bearing a Google Maps decal has Google’s people in a tizzy, but local cops are largely mum on how or why it got there.

A spokesperson for the police department reportedly sent Motherboard the following e-mailed response.

According to reports, Google says it is looking into the matter.