Garden City’s police cars get makeover
Garden City Police purchased three new vehicles this year, and city leaders used it as an opportunity freshen up the department’s image.
The new vehicles are dark blue and gold (the older vehicles are black and white). They feature police badge logos (instead of the city logo) and a single stripe on the hood and trunk. The lettering on the side of the cars is the same as the city’s logo.
The makeover was suggested by Councilman Jeff Souza, and he was supported in the effort by Police Chief Rick Allen and others. A committee that included officers, community members and business people came up with the new design, and it was unveiled in a short ceremony at City Hall Friday.
Souza described the new design as professional, friendly and accessible. He said the gold lettering on the doors and the stripes on the hood and trunk reflect well at night, making the car more visible and safer.
It’s going to take a while before the fleet is all blue and gold. It’s undetermined how or when the rest of the cars would be converted to the new design.
Some other details:
Vehicles in Garden City Police fleet: 18 marked patrol cars. They are Ford Explorers and Ford sedans.
Cost: Ford Explorers, $28,537; Ford sedans, $30,491.
How long typical vehicle lasts: Nine years. They’re retired based on mileage or maintenance, around 100,000 to 125,000 miles.
Katy Moeller: 208-377-6413, @KatyMoeller
This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Garden City’s police cars get makeover."