The Ames Police Department’s patrol cars are sporting a bold and straightforward look for the first time in 20 years.
One of the Ames Police cars sports a white-and-black base coat with black lettering. The new car is painted black on the front and back end with white in the middle, which the department says is more “eye-catching.”
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The new graphics will eventually be placed on all 12 of the vehicles in the department’s fleet as they are replaced, which will take several years.
Ames Police cars used to be all navy before switching to standard white about 20 years ago in a cost-cutting move, Ames Police Chief Geoff Huff said.
“We switched to the white due to the added expense of painting the cars the custom color,” Huff said. “Now (police cars) come in only black or white from the factory.”
The police department felt some of the 20-year-old graphics were hard to read on the all-white cars, so the PD decided it was time for a change.
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“We had a committee of officers come up with a new design, solicited feedback, made a few tweaks and moved ahead with the first car,” Huff said.
The department is sticking with the Ford Explorer but with a new design.
“We are now ordering black hybrid Explorers, which have a slightly higher re-sell value,” Huff said. “We are wrapping the doors with white to create the classic black and white design.”
The department believes black and white is more visible than an all-white vehicle due to the contrasting colors. The new look provides better safety for officers and should be more visible to the public.
The graphic fonts should be easier to read as well.
Ames Police will slowly roll out the new design as the old cars are replaced, Huff said. Another new car is coming soon, though Huff did not specify an exact date.
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“Our patrol cars generally last 24-30 months and many are over 100,000 miles at that point,” Huff said. “It will take several years to fully make the switch.”
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com

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