The Fairfield Police Department recently unveiled new designs for vehicles used by school resource officers at both Fairfield Warde High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School.
The Fairfield Police Department recently unveiled new designs for vehicles used by school resource officers at both Fairfield Warde High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School.
School resource officers Chanse Wilkie and Kevin McPadden stand next to newly designed police vehicles for Fairfield Warde High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School. 
The Fairfield Police Department recently unveiled new designs for vehicles used by school resource officers at Fairfield Warde High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Pictured are Officer Kevin McPadden and Fairfield Ludlowe Principal Greg Hatzis next to one of the new designs.
The Fairfield Police Department recently unveiled new designs for vehicles used by school resource officers at both Fairfield Warde High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Pictured are Officer Chanse Wilkie and Fairfield Warde Principal Paul Cavanna next to one of the new designs.
FAIRFIELD — Students, parents and teachers aren't the only ones showing school spirit in Fairfield. The town's police department is also getting in on the act.
Two newly designed police vehicles depict the school mascot of the district's two high schools, respectively. The car driven by Fairfield Ludlowe High's School Resource Officer Kevin McPadden is adorned with a blue falcon, while Fairfield Warde High's School Resource Officer Chanse Wilkie's vehicle is emblazoned with a red mustang horse.
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The wraps for the vehicles were installed by Waterbury-based company StickIt Graphics.
“Officer McPadden and Officer Wilkie are deeply embedded within their school communities," said Fairfield Police Lt. Michael Stahl, the school safety supervisor, in a statement from the department. "They serve not only as a resource for safety but also as mentors and trusted partners for students, staff and families. These vehicles are just one small way to depict the partnership, the relationships and the community pride that define our work.”
The impetus for the redesign was to show the partnership between the school district and the police department. Fairfield Police Sgt. Jenna Wellington, the department's public affairs officer, said Stahl proposed wrapping the cars "as a visible symbol of partnership, school pride and inclusion."
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Fairfield Police Chief Michael Paris added his own touch, proposing that the outlines of the letters and the police logo on the cars be in the school's primary colors. Therefore, the Warde vehicle has a red border around the letters, while Ludlowe has a blue shade.
“These vehicles are a visible reminder of the strong relationship between our officers, the schools and the community,” Paris said in the statement. “Our School Safety Division works every day to create safe and welcoming learning environments, and these designs are a symbol of that collaboration and school pride."
Superintendent of Fairfield Public Schools Michael J. Testani echoed those sentiments.
“We are grateful for the continued collaboration with the Fairfield Police Department," he said in the statement. "Projects like this highlight the positive impact that strong school and police partnerships can have, reinforcing to our students and families that their safety, well-being, and school spirit are priorities we all share.”
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According to Wellington, the work was completed without drawing from any new taxpayer funds or the school district budget. She did not specify how much the work cost but said StickIt Graphics adjusted its pricing for the job.
The feedback has been "overwhelmingly positive," she said. 
"Students have been excited to see their school spirit represented, staff and parents have expressed appreciation for the gesture, and it has sparked a lot of conversation about the strong partnership between the police department, the schools, and the community," she said in an emailed response.
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Ignacio Laguarda is a reporter who covers education and more for the Stamford Advocate.
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