GREENFIELD — Patrolman Stephen Kalk of the Greenfield Police Department is getting a new police car, one in which his canine partner will be able to ride as soon as the dog is trained.
In anticipation of getting the new car, Kalk thought it might be a good idea to update the plain block-letter logo design on the sides of it. While pondering the thought, Kalk and GPD Capt. Brian Hartman, the officer in charge of department’s fleet, thought it would also be a good idea to have the new logo on all the new patrol cars that will be phased in over the next four to five years.
Hartman and Kalk took the idea of the new logo to Chief Jeff Rasche, who was on board but asked to see the design before giving his approval.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryKalk then teamed up with Greg Webb of Greg Webb Design, and they came up with a flowing, patriotic flag theme that fit the idea in Kalk’s mind. Rasche liked it. So did Mayor Chuck Fewell.
“Everybody who needed to liked the design, so that’s how we ended up with what we have now,” Hartman said.
Kalk’s design is much bolder than the simple block-letter logo now in use. It evokes the flag with patriotic red, white and blue colors. The markings fill in the word “POLICE,” and block white letters spell out “GREENFIELD” in smaller type underneath.
The design is not a paint job, but an adhesive vinyl decal that costs about $450 per vehicle to apply. It’s money well-spent, GPD officials said, particularly since they felt it was time for a new look to come out with the new cars that will join the fleet.
“I really like the new look,” said Matt Holland, deputy chief of police. “Every now and then, you just need a new look to keep things fresh.”
This is the fourth logo design alteration the department has had in the past 20 years, Holland said.
Most of the 42 new cars the department will replace over the next several years will be outfitted with the new logo.
All department cars are on a replacement rotation, meaning new cars will be added each year. Each of those — except for unmarked cars, of course — will get the new logo. The department already has a couple of the new vehicles on the streets and hope to have at least four in service by the end of the year.
There are plans to purchase six more new cars in 2020.
The older vehicles still on the road will keep the original artwork.
