Black and white cars sit pretty with police

Lolita Harper

It may have been the patrol cars that got the makeover, but the lift

in morale is most visible on the faces of patrol officers who now

cruise their beats in black and white cars.

Officer Nicole Brown, one of the department’s newest officers,

never drove the all-white cars, so she has nothing to compare the

black and white cars to. In her hometown of Fountain Valley, the

officers drive black and white cars and when she envisioned herself

as an officer, it was behind the wheel of a car that had the

traditional color scheme, she said.

“I think the black and white cars are very appealing,” Brown said.

“Obviously, it’s a symbol. People notice the black and whites

rolling.”

Cpl. Greg Scott said the change in cars is just one part of

several things the new chief has done to distinguish the department’s

mission of community law enforcement. The black and white cars are

the traditional symbol of police work and garner attention in the

community.

“The cars are more identifiable and that is setting a real tone as

far as what our mission is,” Scott said. “There is no mistake from

the public as to what the role is of a black and white police car.”

Officer Heather Keller said various people have stopped her on the

street to tell her the paint job is a big improvement.

“They like them better, they can notice them more easily,” Keller

said were some of the comments she’s heard. “People don’t think we

are security guards anymore.”

An added bonus for the department is that the officers like

driving them. Scott said all the feedback he has received from his

colleagues has been positive.

“Everyone is really excited about them,” Brown said. “They were

all talking about it before.”

Mayor Gary Monahan agreed.

“Aren’t they purdy,” he joked. “But seriously, I think they are

great and all the guys are really proud of them. They keep them

spotless and shiny.”

In fact, the cars are so eye-catching that the mayor almost

crashed while staring at one, he said. Monahan was driving on Wilson

Avenue when he first saw the new paint job. He was so busy “checking

it out,” that he nearly hit the car in front of him.

The department transferred to all white cars in the early 1970s,

mainly to reduce costs and increase officer comfort without having to

pay for the added expense of air conditioning. When Chief John

Hensley took the helm, he identified traditional police cars as one

of his priorities and the council approved the move on Jan. 6 by a 4

to 1 vote. Councilwoman Libby Cowan dissented.

The cost to repaint the 45 Crown Victorias in the department’s

fleet was about $15,000. The Police Department paid for the redesign,

which will include new decals, out of its own budget, according to a

staff report.

Other than the mayor’s near accident, there hasn’t been a negative

thing to say about the black and whites, Monahan said.

“I have personally heard a lot of really good comments,” Monahan

said.

* LOLITA HARPER is the community forum editor. She also writes

columns Wednesdays and Fridays. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275

or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.