UPDATED
The Kirkland Police Department is changing the look of their police vehicles. Out with the color blue — the Black and Whites are coming back. During a presentation made to the City Council, Police Chief Eric Olsen explained some of the reasoning behind the new look.
Why bring back Black and White? Public recognition tops the list. Studies show that the more traditional Black and White appearance is more universally recognized by visitors, is easier for airborne L.E. to spot and is perceived as more professional. Ed Nowicki with International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) stated: “A black and white car would clearly represent law enforcement in the same manner that people know that fire trucks are red.”
Studies show that the public have a positive response to black and white cars and that officers who drive them are seen as more approachable. Over the years, Kirkland Police Department vehicles have had many different color schemes, including Black and White.
Trends in the 1990’s lead many police departments around the country toward solid colored vehicles. Now that trend is reversing. In 2007, Ford reported a 22% increase in orders for Black and White police cars.
Facts and Figures
- Police Departments began switching to black and white patrol vehicle in the 1950’s to become more visible to the general public.
- By the 1960’s, black and white police vehicles were common place, mythologized by TV shows like Adam 12, Car 54 and Dragnet.
- In the 1990’s, departments began to convert to solid colored patrol vehicles as a means to save money.
- As a result, graphic packages became more extreme as to identify the vehicles as police to civilians.
- Within the past few years, the trend has reversed.
The current color scheme of KPD vehicles is blue. Source: KPD
The current blue color scheme on KPD vehicles has been around for over ten years. The transition to the new colors for the Police vehicles will take some time as they are not all changing at once.
I’m curious how much this change will costs the City. I’m not really against it, but I think in these times, we have other things to think about then the color of police cars.
The Chief made it clear in his presentation that this will only be implemented as cars are replaced.
I would tend to agree with Andrea as well. I actually “like” the color on KPD’s cars, it is a “classy” blue color, and it (solid colors) seems like it was introduced as a way to save money back then. Changing now therefore seems even more illogical.
But if changing, why “old” black and white? In most parts of the modern world, police cars are turning predominantly white with LARGE reflective surfaces/graphics (green, red, blue, etc) so they can be seen “for miles”.
Police cars would also be easier to spot – I assume the intent is that they should be “seen” to have a preventive effect – if officers use their daytime driving lights and turn signals more (note, KPD officers are no worse than regular drivers, but they should sort of be role models and “lead the way”).
Rob, could you contact Chief Olson and ask if it would be OK for you to post his entire PowerPoint presentation (probably as a PDF) here on KirklandViews, or if they’d post it on the city web site so you can link to it? It contained a lot of good explanatory information, and he didn’t get nearly enough time to talk through it all at the meeting last Tuesday, being the last thing on the agenda and everybody ready to go home…
I’ll see what I can do. I agree, the presentation was full of much information which was cut short in the presentation.