Police department has four new vehicles, with six more on the
way
Gilroy – The police department is a bit more visible lately, and their patrol vehicles may have something to do with it. The department is in the midst of switching their fleet of all-white patrol cars to the traditional “black and whites,” a move designed to make their officers more easily spotted and recognized.
“Everybody understands that a black and white is a police car and that is a positive thing. We want them to see us. We want people to know we’re out there,” said Gilroy Police Sgt. Kurt Svardal.
So far the department has four vehicles, two Chevy Tahoes and two Crown Victorias, and will get six more in late April. As the current fleet of all white cars age and are taken out of service, they will be replaced by the black and whites at virtually the same cost. It should take about three years before the white patrol vehicles are completely off the streets.
“There are still a lot of (officers) driving them, you’re just noticing the black and whites because they’re more visible,” he said. “And that’s what we want.”
Marcie Montelongo is moving to Gilroy from Morgan Hill and believes the switch will make the cars look more professional.
“It looks a lot better. All white looks kind of plain,” she said. “All white doesn’t sound right to me. People might mistake it for a taxi.”
Last year, the Morgan Hill Police Department started converting to black and whites after a decade of using the all-white cars.
“Agencies are transitioning and for us it’s more of a traditional look of police cars,” said Cmder. Terry Booten. “At the time it was kind if the style. It was a softer look. I think agencies wanted a less authoritative look.”
But the black and whites are more recognizable and the department elected to rotate the all-white cars out of service.
“It’s not so much a psychological edge, but a more traditional look,” she explained.
According to Wayne South, coordinator of Gavilan College’s Police Academy, there appears to be a trend of police departments moving back to the black and white patrol vehicles.
“It’s identified more by the public as being police or law enforcement,” he said. “If you’re from out of state and not familiar with the all white cars, you may think what is this security or fire? When you’re out there (on patrol) you want to be seen.”
Black and white patrol cars are unique to police departments and is the reason many are switching back. South believes keeping the cars uniform prevents confusion.
“We went from white to black and white (at the Millbrae Police Department). It was more a matter of tradition … There’s a lot of security places that use white cars,” he said.
Gilroy resident Robert F. (who asked his entire last name be omitted) believes the color doesn’t make a difference.
“Police cars are police cars no matter what color it is,” he smiled.
But Paul Wright, who lives in the Murray Avenue neighborhood says the black and whites are a break from the monotony of having all white vehicles.
“You can see them better,” he said.
And that’s the point.
