York Regional Police is proud to introduce a new vehicle design, modernizing the look of our frontline cruisers and other fleet vehicles as we update the current striping, which is now more than 10 years old.
The new design is intended to increase visibility and improve safety, with a focus on ergonomics and comfort for frontline officers, whose vehicles can serve as their office for 12 hours a day.
In consultation with our members and our community, we concluded a review of more than 40 possible designs. The final design focused on a simpler, yet bolder blue-on-white and white-on-blue combination to maximize cruiser visibility. The two-tone base design captures both a nostalgic feel, while maintaining a distinctive police look, common throughout police agencies within Ontario.
New features of the vehicle include:
- In-car equipment placement for ease-of-access
- A re-designed equipment enclosure for the trunk to maximize equipment capacity for officers
- Additional side and forward lighting to enhance intersection visibility and clearing ability
- Modular design and construction to ease down time related to repair, build, commission and de-commission
- Vehicle-to-vehicle sync of emergency lights for more control and ease working scene management
- Electronically operated spot lights tied into the emergency lighting system
- Lights and sirens integrated into the vehicle on-board computer
- A more rugged and louder siren
In keeping with our commitment to transparency, we sought input from our community partners. We invited comments from members who sit on the five District Community Liaison Committees (DCLCs), as well as members of the Police Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) and the Investigative Services Community Advisory Committee (ISCAC), on the new style, colours, visibility and branding. The community consultation occurred in May 2023 at the Training and Education Facility. The results from the survey, the in-person event and the community’s feedback on the new design was overwhelmingly favourable.
“We’re pleased to offer our frontline officers a more comfortable, safer vehicle that also increases their visibility in the community,” said Chief Jim MacSween. “The new design is modern, appealing and easily recognizable to citizens and will assist in our crime prevention and patrol efforts.”
The new car design will be rolled out through natural attrition, with the vehicle graphics changing as vehicles are replaced on their regular replacement schedule once they reach their end-of-service life. It is anticipated to take approximately four years to replace the entire fleet.
Be on the lookout; the first cruisers bearing the new design will start appearing on York Region roads in July 2023.
Prepared by: Sergeant Clint Whitney
July 21, 2023
