Chester Police Dept. wins national design contest

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The annual contest was started more than 20 years ago.

In a press release issued earlier this week by Hendon Publishing Co., The Chester Police wanted to redesign their fleet in an attempt to make their vehicles easily recognizable and to instill community pride in their department. This particular design, along with the black and silver two-tone paint scheme, was chosen so the cars would be quickly and unmistakable identified by both young and older citizens, as a police vehicle. They chose highly reflective graphics along with a high intensity LED lighting package to increase officer safety, well as making the vehicles distinguishable.

The 2008 contest was judged based on the integrity of the designs submitted, as well as how well each design met the criteria as outlines in the contest guidelines. The response of this year's competition was impressive with more than 400 entries. The 2008 Vehicle Design judges focused on the safety of the officer driving and the ability to identify the automobile as a law enforcement vehicle. The overall appearance of the vehicle was also factored into the results. The judges looked for departmental symbols, names in easy to read lettering, a badge, shields or community seal, emergency phone numbers, and website. For visibility, the judges looked for reflective tape or decals.

In January 2008, the Chester Police Department received the two 2008 Dodge Chargers to be used as squad cars. They originally came in black and one of the CPD officers came up with a paint scheme for them. Once the cars arrived they were taken to Andy's Auto Body in Chester where the doors were painted.

Total Eclipse in Red Bud took care of all of the police markings.