"Pretty Sweet."

Thanks for the "pretty sweet" reporting, Brian Trompeter.

Vienna Police Score Big in Vehicle-Design Competition

by BRIAN TROMPETER, Staff Writer

(Created: Saturday, August 30, 2008 6:44 AM EDT)

It's a small consolation for traffic scofflaws in Vienna, but the police cruiser that just pulled them over looks pretty sweet.

Law and Order magazine recently gave the Vienna Police Department the top award in the Chevrolet Impala category of its 20th annual Police Vehicle Design Contest.

“It is great for morale and the officers feel proud that they use equipment which others feel is superior,” said Master Police Officer Bill Murray, a Vienna police spokesman. “To be chosen by our peers means quite a lot.”

The national contest, which drew more than 400 entries this year, was judged by three public-safety professionals: Deputy Chief Mack Sanders of the Markham (Ill.) Police Department; Vicky Matyas-Smith, executive director of the Southwest Conference of Mayors; and Deputy Dan Roudebush of the Clinton County (Ind.) Sheriff's Office.

Entries were judged on whether they enhanced officers' safety and could be identified easily as a law-enforcement vehicle.

Judges looked for vehicle markings such as department symbols, easily readable lettering, a law-enforcement badge or community seal, emergency telephone numbers and official Web sites. Reflective tape, chevrons and decals also got the judges' attention.

Here's what the judges said about Vienna's vehicle: “The silver color is sharp and the combination with black and yellow goes together well. We like the way the graphics were executed. It is trendy and modern.”

Vienna police began phasing in the new vehicle graphics in late 2005. The appearance package costs about $500 per vehicle and has been ordered for new cruisers as they enter the department's fleet.

The department's older logos have been used since 1993. Only three marked vehicles still have the old logos, Murray said.

The new graphics were designed by Vienna police Sgt. Michael Reeves and Pfc. Pat Shaw, then circulated within the department for officers' input. After the comments were received, Capt. Michael Miller worked with the Graphix Shoppe to finalize the design, Murray said.

The logo splashes “Police” in bold capital letters across the passenger doors on both sides of the patrol car, plus “Vienna” in smaller letters below. One seven-point town police badge is pictured just behind the front wheels on either side of the vehicle and is connected, via two-toned racing stripes, with “Dial 911” above the rear wheels.

The car's number is affixed on several locations, including the roof, which helps police coordinate vehicles from the air during operations.

The sleek, modern graphic design is representative of the changing face of police work and “makes the car exciting, fun - and creates a sense of public pride,” Murray said.

The new graphics may have won in the Impala category, but the department's primary patrol vehicle remains the Ford Crown Victoria.

Vienna police experimented with an Impala for regular patrol work, but decided in November 2007 to stick with the Crown Victoria because it provided officers with superior comfort.

Impalas, which are smaller and get better gas mileage than the Crown Victorias, continue to be used by detectives and other department personnel who do not use their vehicles as their primary office all day, Murray said.

Vienna police also are investigating the use of hybrid vehicles for administrative roles, but lack sufficient testing data to know if hybrids can stand up to rigorous patrol duties, Murray said.