ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown Police Department vehicles will get a fresh coat of paint, featuring a sleek new black-and-white color scheme.
According to a release from the department, the new palette was selected to enhance visibility and align with police departments nationwide, promoting a recognizable and authoritative presence on the streets.
- Allentown Police Department premiered their new vehicle aesthetic, featuring a black-and-white scheme, on Sunday
- The new paint job is intended to be more recognizable and authoritative
- Residents may notice the new vehicles coming out on the streets over the course of the next year
Previously, the department’s vehicles featured a white base with blue stripe and yellow accents.
According to “Police vehicles as symbols of legitimacy,” a paper by Rylan Simpson published in the Journal of Experimental Criminology in 2018, a new paint job can have a significant impact on how the public perceives police.
“Police vehicle types and esthetics impact perceptions of police officers in significant and meaningful ways," Simpson wrote in his study.
"Like uniforms, police vehicles can be important symbols of legitimacy which exude presence and nonverbally communicate philosophies and intentions to the public.
"Police departments may tailor the perceived intentions of their motorized patrols by strategically manipulating the appearance of their vehicles."
Perceived more favorably
According to Simpson, officers tend to be perceived more favorably in marked as opposed to unmarked police vehicles, and tend to be perceived more favorably when those vehicles have a black-and-white color scheme, as opposed to a white-and-blue scheme.
Allentown Police Department introduced the change Sunday at the city’s annual Classics & Cruisers event on Hamilton Street.
“Our updated vehicle design is more than just a visual transformation; it’s a representation of our commitment to modernization and effectiveness in serving our community. As the department looks to the future, this change reflects our pledge to uphold public safety and the principles of service and professionalism.”Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca
The event benefits Allentown Police Department’s Honor Guard, as well as the America on Wheels Museum, which provides students with an engaging opportunity to explore the history and science behind transportation technology.
“Our updated vehicle design is more than just a visual transformation; it’s a representation of our commitment to modernization and effectiveness in serving our community,” Police Chief Charles Roca said.
“As the department looks to the future, this change reflects our pledge to uphold public safety and the principles of service and professionalism.”
Community members are encouraged to keep an eye out for the transition of patrol vehicles to the new black-and-white design, which is expected to be fully transitioned over the course of the next year.
