BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police troopers are going old school.
The patrol fleet is going back to the traditional white color scheme that had been in place seven or eight years ago.
In the Lehigh Valley, Troop M has received three Dodge Durangos with the white paint scheme and state police patch on the side, Trooper Nathan Branosky said.
They’ll eventually replace the metallic gray Ford Interceptors with "TROOPER" on the side, first rolled out in 2017, Branosky said.
It’s a move that’s happening across the state and will take time to put a dent in the nearly 1,200-vehicle marked patrol fleet.
“The reason for the change is that a re-evaluation by the current command staff found that although gray enabled a unique identification, white provided the best color in terms of visibility and safety for patrol troopers,” state police Communications Director Myles Snyder said.
"White provided the best color in terms of visibility and safety for patrol troopers.”Myles Snyder, state police communications director
Besides the paint job, the 2023 Dodge Durangos also are new to the fleet. A total of 260 marked white Durangos will be put in service, Snyder said.
They’ll complement 397 other new vehicles — 2024 Ford Interceptors and Chevrolet Tahoes that also are being delivered to different parts of the state, Snyder said.
Branosky said the gray Ford Interceptors are probably most familiar to Lehigh Valley motorists – they’re often seen on the major highways like Interstate 78, Route 22 and Route 33. There’s not a specific timeline to replace them but the new white cars will be cycled in as they arrive, he said.
Statewide, the new vehicles are getting out at a rate of 20 or 30 a week, Snyder said.
Troopers will be patrolling the Troop M coverage area soon with @Dodge Durango’s and reverting back to the white color scheme. #Dodge pic.twitter.com/bMmDKhqX37
— Trooper Branosky (@PSPTroopMPIO) February 29, 2024
Branosky tweeted a photo of one of the new white Dodges and got a mix of reviews in reply. He said feedback from the troopers who drive them is about the same, with some favoring the white cars and others preferring the gray.
At the time the gray cars were unveiled, officials said the color was chosen because it matched troopers’ uniforms.
The entire state police vehicle fleet includes about 1,185 marked patrol vehicles and 305 unmarked ones. The different makes and models give the barracks different options, Snyder said.
“The troops and stations each have their individual needs,” he said. “They want a variety out there.”
