Brownwood Police Department officially revealed their new logo for patrol vehicles on Thursday during a press conference at the law enforcement center.

According to Brownwood Chief of Police Mike Corley, the new logo is the result of a break time conversation and the work of a committee of five BPD officers.

The committee is made up of Detective Trey Weathermon, Officer Kelly Barclay, Corporal Stephanie Morgan, Officer Robert Lee and Officer Jesse Mares, and the design was polished up by the graphics designer at Ace’s Full Signs and Wraps of Brownwood.

Officer Barclay began the discussion of a new design with other officers stating that the BPD patrol units look too much like other city vehicles with the prominent feature showing a large “B” logo, used by the City of Brownwood.  The officers on the committee stated that they really wanted to come up with something of their own that would really be Brownwood Police Department’s own logo.

“The old logo has served us well for several years.  It was put on in the early 90s,” said Morgan.  “It’s good to move on and have something fresh.”

Barclay stated that he felt this really modernizes the department’s look.  “I’m very pleased with the design, its aggressive fonts and our own Brownwood Badge.  It also helps morale; the officers are going to be proud of what they are driving.”

Barclay explained how the striping shape began, stating that one day he noticed a shadow cast on his own personal vehicle that looked nice.  He roughly drew out the idea and then took it to Justin Storch, a dispatcher who has a design program, which put it into a digital form.

About a year later, BPD formed a committee to get to work on the task.  Several meetings were held discussing and reviewing police logos from all over the world.  Three designs were considered before a final design was selected.

The officers said they were very pleased with the final results and how it looked on the vehicles and that it was a unanimous decision.

“What really makes it good to me is that the work was all done locally,” said Detective Weathermon.

Officer Barclay stated that the first Dodge Charger to be converted to the new design (patrol unit 6) has been in service for about a week, and has received very favorable comments from citizens.

“I’m very happy about the new logo,” said Barclay.  “I had a chance to drive the charger in the rodeo parade and the reaction was good, it was recognized very well as a police car.”

Chief Corley stated that he also has received good comments regarding the new look.

“Several people at the city council meeting this week gave me great comments,” said Corley.

Currently the BPD patrol fleet consists of 4 Dodge Chargers, 2 Chevrolet Tahoes and 3 Ford Crown Victorias.  Two of the Crown Victorias are being replaced with these two Tahoes, and will not receive the new striping and logo.  The chargers were added to the fleet beginning in 2010 and will slowly be converted to the new striping and logo along with possibly the 1 remaining Crown Victoria.

“We planned to phase in the new logo as we added new cars to the fleet,” stated Corley, “but they looked so good that we decided to do them all.”

Barclay added that the new design’s recognition as a police vehicle is very important, especially on calls such as a traffic accident scene, where the lettering is more visible and able to be seen from a further distance.

“There’s no doubt when we arrive on scene now who we are,” said Barclay.

The cost of the new striping and logo was not in the department’s budget so money from the department’s forfeiture and seizure funds is being used, according to Corley.  Each unit costs approximately $350 to restripe and has to be taken out of service for approximately one week, so all vehicles within the fleet cannot be completed at the same time.  Corley stated that he believes the conversion to the new look will be completed in the fall of this year.

Pictured above are the Chevrolet Tahoe and Dodge Charger with the new striping and logo.

Above are three of the officers on the committee, from left to right, Officer Barclay, Corporal Morgan and Detective Weathermon.

The previous striping and logo is pictured above on a Dodge Charger patrol unit.