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By Robert Wilonsky in Crime and Punishment

Tue., Oct. 20 2009 @ 9:00AM

Cars Diecast

We're, oh, about four hours away from getting a sneak peek at the new Dallas Police Department cars -- that's when the city council's Public Safety Committee treks down to the DPD Basic Training Center for the unveiling of the new ride that's been parked in the HQ basement for the past week. Till then, this is all we know per a memo (scroll down to the last page) sent this morning to the committee: Beginning next year, DPD's ditching the blue ride and going old-school black-and-white.

How come? Well, for several reasons, says the missive, chief among them, "National studies have shown that police vehicles painted in this manner are more 'visible' to the community in which they serve." And: Black-and-white's cheaper than blue: The current blue body-wrap decal runs around $945, says the memo, while black-and-white decals plus installation "costs approximately $325." And: "Tradition has ingrained citizen perception that a black and white vehicle is a police vehicle." And: They're just more kick-ass.

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11 comment(s) / Post a Comment

LaceyB says:

Dunno about you, but I would much rather have a black and white car pull me over than one of those dated blue ones. It seems so...LA Confidential.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 10:10AM

Enrique De La Fuente says:

FWIW, Austin is also going B&W.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 10:18AM

John M says:

If this was just the plan going forward to apply the new black & decals to new cars or ones already due for new decals I'd say why not, particularly with the cost savings but why do I have a feeling that they are going to start replacing all the decals in mass negating any cost savings by a huge amount?

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 10:21AM

John M says:

in mass = en masse

I swear I can write english good, for reals.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 10:31AM

maserati says:

Could this be the car?

http://jalopnik.com/5374423/chevy-caprice-police-car-once-you-go-black

Pretty intimidating in black and white.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 10:42AM

RobertB says:

@John M: That would be French, actuellement. :)

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 11:05AM

anon says:

Yeah they're gonna do all the cars.... right in the middle of a major upgrade to the reporting system....

can you say waste of money!!!

I know cuz I'm doin the upg....

anon

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 11:51AM

chris von danger says:

It works for me, id rather see the police fleet go B&W accordingly. I was in LA recently and I respected the rides they roll in, They make DPD police vehicles look like freakin' clown cars.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 11:55AM

kerry_okie says:

What some PD's are doing is buy solid white cars and wrapping the black parts. Why? First, the car manufacturers charge a hefty premium for making a black and white at the factory. Second, you can peel the wrap off when the car is retired and get more for them at auction.

Not that DPD thinks that far ahead, mind you.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 12:11PM

fitzgerald says:

I am all for going back to the black/white police cars. Kinda like when fire departments went to that awful yellow color for a few years. If police departments really want to be intimidating with their black/white cars, the new Camaro would really do the trick.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 1:18PM

LakeWWWooder says:

Dallas Police with the classic navy blue uniforms have always commanded respect. Glad to see they are going back to the black and white cars.

Sky blue is just sooo tacky Houston.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 1:45PM