Cars back in black to curb confusion

Newport Beach Police Department cruisers will get a makeover starting next month with a switch from all-white paint jobs to a more traditional two-tone, black-and-white design.

City officials hope the switch will boost perceptions of police presence in the city, said Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau.

“The last thing we want is to come on heavy and give people the perception that Newport Beach is coming on strong with police enforcement, but people should be able to easily recognize a police car,” Bludau said.

Visitors flock to Newport’s beaches and other local attractions, especially during the summer months. The new paint jobs will also will make local police more recognizable to tourists and day trippers, Bludau said.

A city-commissioned study released earlier this year found only 58% of respondents were satisfied with the frequency of police patrols in their neighborhoods. More visible, black-and-white cars could change that perception, Bludau said.

The black-and-white cars also will lend an air of credibility to police, Newport Beach Police Chief John Klein told the City Council Tuesday.

“We want to give them a more professional look and make it more visible,” Klein said.

Newport Beach is one of three police departments in Orange County with all-white cars, Klein said.

Both Irvine and Laguna Beach police also drive all-white cruisers, Klein said. There was a move after the civil rights and anti-war protests to switch to all-white cars to project a gentler image in the community, he said.

People would often try to flag down Newport Beach police officers after the initial switch to all-white, mistaking the cruisers for taxis, Klein said.

“Some people got rides, some people didn’t,” Klein said.

Police departments across the country are switching to two-tone cars, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Evan Sailor. Black-and-white cars can act as a deterrent to crime, he said.

“It is more visible and recognizable as a police vehicle, a lot of security companies have all-white cars and people think you’re security and not police,” Sailor said.

The two-tone cruisers are expected to begin appearing on city streets the first week of July, Klein said. Painting the department’s existing fleet of cars will cost about $20,000, Sailor said.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.