By Larry Celona
The New York Post
NYPD cars are getting a new look — in the front and back.
The department began replacing the decals on the front and rear hoods of all of its marked cars last month so that they read “NYPD Police” instead of just “Police.”
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly ordered the change after he saw a car marked “Police” driving erratically in December and thought it was from his department, sources told The Post.
According to one source, this happened on the day that police vehicles from several law-enforcement agencies were headed to the funeral of slain cop Peter Figoski on Long Island.
Kelly had the erratic car checked out and found that it was from another department.
But if he could be confused by the marking, the public could be, too, he concluded.
As a result, the next time each marked NYPD car goes in for regular maintenance — usually once every few months — its “Police” decal is to be replaced by an “NYPD Police” one.
The process takes about a half-hour, sources said, and it’s being done in police garages in every borough.
The department’s patrol cars already have “NYPD” printed in large letters on their sides.
The order affects more than 3,300 vehicles, sources said, and all of the cars should have the new designation shortly.
The change has prompted some grumbling from within the ranks.
“It’s definitely going to tie up cars and manpower,” one officer complained.
It was not clear how much the change in marking would cost the NYPD.
Copyright 2012 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.