Ark Valley News - Residents not impressed with proposed police decals

Park City police have requested a more traditional look to the sides of their vehicles. This artist's rendition shows what police have in mind.

Residents not impressed with proposed police decals
By Matt Heilman
Last Updated: August 22, 2013

By Matt Heilman

It's a minor change, but it's one that drew a strong reaction from a pair of longtime Park City residents. And the feedback wasn't encouraging.

At the Park City council's Aug. 13 meeting, Police Chief Phil Bostian introduced a plan to replace the decals on police vehicles from the current green marking to large, black letters. The decals will still identify the Park City Police Department, but the message behind the identifier can be interpreted differently with how it's displayed, the residents said.

Carol Flower, who has lived in Park City since before the town was incorporated, said the traditional black lettering on white vehicles contradicts Park City's desired image as a progressive and friendly community. She said the "old-fashioned" look could give off the perception that the officer behind the wheel isn't going to be approachable.

Former mayor Dee Stuart indicated she liked the originality of the current bright green design for the decals on the police department's SUVs and said the black block lettering too closely mirrors the look of the police vehicles in Bel Aire.

She added that the traditional black on white marking carries a negative perception that reminded her of "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader.

Bostian said the request for the decal change came from his officers. The council approved spending about $300 to replace the current decals from green to the traditional black lettering. The cost for new decals is about $4,800, but $4,500 will be covered by a grant the department obtained through the Kansas Department of Transportation.

With the grant, the city will be refunded $4,500 after purchasing new decals. Council member Chris Johns said he appreciated Flower and Stuart's passion, but ultimately felt it was in the city's best interest to go along with the police department's request since there's not much of an expense coming from the city and an upgraded look was requested from the officers who utilize the vehicles.

Council members also shared the opinion that the more traditional decals on police vehicles could make them more quickly recognized by non-residents who likely wouldn't associate the brighter colors with law enforcement.

The council approved spending $300 for new, more traditional decals on police vehicles, 6-1. Council member Melvin Kerr opposed the motion. Council member George Capps, who is a former Park City police chief, was absent from the Aug. 13 meeting.

The new decals on police vehicles is the second cosmetic change to the Park City Police Department since Bostian started with the city in April. Last month, officers began wearing new uniforms, switching back from tan to navy blue.

Prior to the recent uniform change, Park City officers wore navy blue for about 20 years before adopting the tan uniforms in 2002.