Do you think it is all right for police vehicles to sport paid advertising?

Doglips · 11-01-2002, 06:00 AM

Do you think it is all right for police vehicles to sport paid advertising?

This is something that a lot of the small towns here in Florida and Im sure else were have been thinking about.....to cover cost put adds on the police cars. Now I of course will be the first to post the jpeg pic of a cop car with a dunkin donuts sticker in the humor form but it does make sense to help cover the cost...what do you all think?????????????

Cops ponder free cruisers funded by ads

By Mark Schlueb | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 1, 2002

To Edgewood police Chief Clarence Bass, it's a simple math equation: He has 11 officers but only eight patrol cars.

So if he can put new cruisers on the street just by plastering them with paid advertising from McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts or, perhaps more appropriately, a bail bondsman -- so be it.

"Statewide, sales-tax revenues are down. We're looking for a way to fund our operations, and this is a way to do it," said Bass, who soon will ask the City Council to OK the free-cars-for-advertising deal.

In Central Florida and across the country, small-town police chiefs are salivating at this newest idea in law-enforcement circles, tempted by an offer of free squad cars -- albeit ones emblazoned with NASCAR-style ads -- from a startup marketing company in North Carolina.

Faced with tight post-Sept. 11 budgets, many towns, including Edgewood, Oakland and Windermere,think that sounds more appealing than ever. Eachis considering it.

Some criminal-justice experts have already trashed the idea, however. They say that covering patrol cars with ads for burger chains and muffler shops undermines police officers' authority and creates a minefield of potential conflicts of interest.

Too good to be true?

And even some who aren't troubled by such ethical questions worry that the long wait for cars from the fledgling company -- none has been delivered so far -- could mean the deal is too good to be true.

It works like this: A Charlotte-based company signs up local and national advertisers who want to turn police cars into rolling billboards. With the advertising money, the company buys a new police car, covers it with ads and turns it over to a police department for three years.

New squad cars cost about $22,500, not including radios, computers and other equipment. For small departments, that's a big chunk of change.

"From a police administrative standpoint, you need to stretch your budget as far as you can," Zephyrhills police Chief Jerry Freeman said.

On Monday, Freemanpersuaded the City Council in his western Florida town to sign a contract with the company, Government Acquisitions LLC. The city will pay $1 per year for 12 to 15 new cars.

The seed for the new company was planted in Mooresville, N.C., home to more than 40 NASCAR racing teams and officially trademarked as "Race City USA." Town leaders there have decided to seek NASCAR team sponsors for their police cars, which would be painted with the same logos, numbers and color schemes seen on team cars.

No sponsors have bitten so far in Mooresville. But Government Acquisitions spun off the idea of placing more-sedate ads on police cars across America.

According to managing partner Ken Allison, the concept is downright patriotic.

"The homeland-security budget really hasn't trickled down to the local level," Allison said. "They're driving vehicles with over 100,000 miles on them that are breaking down; they have three or four officers per vehicle."

Allison said about 200 cities and counties have sought information on the program in the past five months. About 20 have signed contracts that guarantee delivery within a year.

Allison's company has drawn second looks from cash-strapped police administrators, but it also has been cited as commercialism run amok. Critics ask: What's next? Sponsorship patches on police uniforms?

"The cost is too high," said Gary Ruskin, executive director of the nonprofit organization Commercial Alert. "When you turn police into tawdry hucksters for burgers and fries, you degrade them, and you turn them into national laughingstocks. You're saying police are for sale and justice is for sale."

Foes pressure advertisers

On Wednesday, the organization, associated with consumer watchdog and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader, sent letters to 100 leading advertisers asking them to keep their names off police cars. The letters were signed by 38 criminal-justice professors and advocacy groups.

Ruskin said sponsorship deals could create conflicts for officers. Police might "go easy" on the owners of businesses that advertise, or streets where those businesses are located might be patrolled more heavily than others.

Windermere police Chief Daniel Saylor Jr. trusts his department's nine officers not to do anything unethical. But he worries that placing ads on his department's cars could create the perception of problems.

"That's a big issue, and that's one reason I'm leaning against it," Saylor said. "When you have sponsorship on the side of a car, I could see that creating problems."

But for many police chiefs, those worries are trumped by tight budgets and aging squad cars. To some, the ads are no different from those on city buses or in publicly owned ballparks.

"I understand those concerns, but if we have a car that's able to respond and save lives and do everything we're supposed to do, what's the big deal?" Edgewood's Chief Basssaid.

In the end, the issue may be decided by the marketplace. The startup company hasn't lined up enough advertisers to deliver a single car.

Allison acknowledged that it has been easier signing up police departments than sponsors. Once the concept catches on, he predicts, more national advertisers will sign up.

But in the meantime, the company's failure to put new patrol cars on the street has prompted some police chiefs, already a suspicious lot, to rethink the deal.

Maitland police Chief Edward Doyle said the idea of free cars sounded great, but he decided against it because none has been shipped.

Mark Schlueb can be reached at mschlueb@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5417.

Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel

Klaus · 11-01-2002, 06:22 AM

Personally, I don't like the idea, but I support the right of towns to do it, if they wish.

Snakebite · 11-01-2002, 08:18 AM

Maybe the NRA can paint a big logo on the car.

Big Dog · 11-01-2002, 08:32 AM

Well, I opposed putting vending machines on Navy warships, but they did it, it was a convenience, and it was okay.
I opposed putting video games on the ships, they did it.
I opposed putting vending machines and advertising in high schools, now they've done it, too.

I guess this should be a local issue - if the citizens are okay with it, let 'em do it. It just doesn't seem proper to me. Does that make me an "old fogey"?

What happens if one of the advertisers get's in legal trouble, and police cars with his logo on 'em show up?

Oxford · 11-01-2002, 10:24 AM

I disapprove of the practice. Clearly it's a sign that business and ethic practices have been lowered, reduced, or sold out for the sake of gaining the highest dollar. Can't have it both ways. Either it's right or it's wrong.

Public institutions who follow this practice infringe upon the rights of businesses to have open competition when they simply allow one business to pay them to use their advertising in public places.

If the questionable practice takes place, at least the open bidding process should be required which should ensure the highest or best bidder to do their advertising.

I'm not in favor of this practice, though, because as Big Dog pointed out, would the public employee favor the law breaker who has his paid for a commercial on their car or in some other public place?

My experience, in particular with this issue, was in public schools. Coke and Pepsi tried to buy out the rights to exclusively sell their product at school events.

For a lucrative share in the profits of their exclusive beverage sales, they wanted to be allowed to install their advertising in public places within the gymnasiums. In addition they offered to completely install new gym flooring with new logo's and school graphics.

Beyond that they wanted to pay for completely renovating the football stadium press box. All of these projects represented huge monotary gains for the school at the expense of lowering their ethics.

Personally, I was defintely not in favor of accepting these offerings but the superintendent of my school system overruled and sold out his ethics. That was wrong. If it was to be done then at least competitive bidding, open to the public, should have been required.

Oxford

oneastrix · 11-01-2002, 10:43 AM

I see a potential for big problems including, but not limited to favoritism.

Oxford · 11-01-2002, 11:11 AM

Oneastrix: I agree with you. There's a huge difference between allowing these practices in publicly owned places then in privately owned places.

If the advertisement was on your patrol car wouldn't that at least cause a small influence on how you treat someone from that company? (Oneastrix, I totally believe that you personally wouldn't be influenced but someone with less integrity & ethics might be influenced.)

Guess it could either turn you off so bad about that company that you'd throw the book at a violator or else just the opposite. Who knows? At least the appearance of favoritism is there and it's because the public institution is selling out to the dollar.
OX

taras · 11-01-2002, 11:51 AM

Gotta agree with Ox on this one. We were gonna do it here in Winnipeg, for the cops to get cell phones but public opposition won out.

NRAJOE · 11-01-2002, 12:32 PM

This patrol brought to you by...Reebok! When you need to run,buy the very best!

oneastrix · 11-01-2002, 12:41 PM

Ox, I would definitely be influenced in the advertiser's favor. Human nature is human nature. That's why I wouldn't want an ad on my unit.

Remember, the truest indicator of integrity in a situation like this is know what you would be influenced by, and avoiding those situations.

Doglips · 11-01-2002, 02:37 PM

Geting hauled off for DUI in the Budwiser car......drug car by Bill's smoke and head shop.....accident reports by Daves body shop car.....Burglyry report taken by the ADT/Brinks Home secruity system car...sounds funny to me...but still some small towns cant afford the new cars...and still pay officers anything.

wes · 11-01-2002, 03:08 PM

Mary Kay Cosmetics,pink police car.

oneastrix · 11-01-2002, 03:17 PM

Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs patrol car.....you've all seen their mascot vehicle! Imagine it with red and blues on it...

wes · 11-01-2002, 03:24 PM

Maybe have 'em play tunes like the Ice Cream trucks.

Oxford · 11-01-2002, 04:16 PM

You've all got a great sense of humor about this situation.

I'm sitting here busting a gut thinking about the possibilities you've suggested.
OX

:nod:

Doglips · 11-02-2002, 06:01 AM

Just a tape in the back of the car "Dude your going to Jail...buy a Dell"

Dale · 11-02-2002, 08:41 AM

Most of the pros and cons have been covered.

I personally disagree with the idea.

To me the police vehicle is a symbol to be respected and revelled. I think that police vehicles that begin to look like city buses or taxi cabs takes away from the publics ability to take them and the Officer(s) seriously.

Sniper[MI] · 11-02-2002, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rtlesnkesbite
Maybe the NRA can paint a big logo on the car.

I'd pay an extra 10 buck a year to the NRA to support that program! As long as all of the 10 dollars did it! Or we could pool our resources and buy a car ad ourselves as supporters of the second amendment and users of this site!

:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

11-01-2002, 06:00 AM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Do you think it is all right for police vehicles to sport paid advertising? Do you think it is all right for police vehicles to sport paid advertising? This is something that a lot of the small towns here in Florida and Im sure else were have been thinking about.....to cover cost put adds on the police cars. Now I of course will be the first to post the jpeg pic of a cop car with a dunkin donuts sticker in the humor form but it does make sense to help cover the cost...what do you all think????????????? Cops ponder free cruisers funded by ads By Mark Schlueb \| Sentinel Staff Writer Posted November 1, 2002 To Edgewood police Chief Clarence Bass, it's a simple math equation: He has 11 officers but only eight patrol cars. So if he can put new cruisers on the street just by plastering them with paid advertising from McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts or, perhaps more appropriately, a bail bondsman -- so be it. "Statewide, sales-tax revenues are down. We're looking for a way to fund our operations, and this is a way to do it," said Bass, who soon will ask the City Council to OK the free-cars-for-advertising deal. In Central Florida and across the country, small-town police chiefs are salivating at this newest idea in law-enforcement circles, tempted by an offer of free squad cars -- albeit ones emblazoned with NASCAR-style ads -- from a startup marketing company in North Carolina. Faced with tight post-Sept. 11 budgets, many towns, including Edgewood, Oakland and Windermere,think that sounds more appealing than ever. Eachis considering it. Some criminal-justice experts have already trashed the idea, however. They say that covering patrol cars with ads for burger chains and muffler shops undermines police officers' authority and creates a minefield of potential conflicts of interest. Too good to be true? And even some who aren't troubled by such ethical questions worry that the long wait for cars from the fledgling company -- none has been delivered so far -- could mean the deal is too good to be true. It works like this: A Charlotte-based company signs up local and national advertisers who want to turn police cars into rolling billboards. With the advertising money, the company buys a new police car, covers it with ads and turns it over to a police department for three years. New squad cars cost about $22,500, not including radios, computers and other equipment. For small departments, that's a big chunk of change. "From a police administrative standpoint, you need to stretch your budget as far as you can," Zephyrhills police Chief Jerry Freeman said. On Monday, Freemanpersuaded the City Council in his western Florida town to sign a contract with the company, Government Acquisitions LLC. The city will pay $1 per year for 12 to 15 new cars. The seed for the new company was planted in Mooresville, N.C., home to more than 40 NASCAR racing teams and officially trademarked as "Race City USA." Town leaders there have decided to seek NASCAR team sponsors for their police cars, which would be painted with the same logos, numbers and color schemes seen on team cars. No sponsors have bitten so far in Mooresville. But Government Acquisitions spun off the idea of placing more-sedate ads on police cars across America. According to managing partner Ken Allison, the concept is downright patriotic. "The homeland-security budget really hasn't trickled down to the local level," Allison said. "They're driving vehicles with over 100,000 miles on them that are breaking down; they have three or four officers per vehicle." Allison said about 200 cities and counties have sought information on the program in the past five months. About 20 have signed contracts that guarantee delivery within a year. Allison's company has drawn second looks from cash-strapped police administrators, but it also has been cited as commercialism run amok. Critics ask: What's next? Sponsorship patches on police uniforms? "The cost is too high," said Gary Ruskin, executive director of the nonprofit organization Commercial Alert. "When you turn police into tawdry hucksters for burgers and fries, you degrade them, and you turn them into national laughingstocks. You're saying police are for sale and justice is for sale." Foes pressure advertisers On Wednesday, the organization, associated with consumer watchdog and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader, sent letters to 100 leading advertisers asking them to keep their names off police cars. The letters were signed by 38 criminal-justice professors and advocacy groups. Ruskin said sponsorship deals could create conflicts for officers. Police might "go easy" on the owners of businesses that advertise, or streets where those businesses are located might be patrolled more heavily than others. Windermere police Chief Daniel Saylor Jr. trusts his department's nine officers not to do anything unethical. But he worries that placing ads on his department's cars could create the perception of problems. "That's a big issue, and that's one reason I'm leaning against it," Saylor said. "When you have sponsorship on the side of a car, I could see that creating problems." But for many police chiefs, those worries are trumped by tight budgets and aging squad cars. To some, the ads are no different from those on city buses or in publicly owned ballparks. "I understand those concerns, but if we have a car that's able to respond and save lives and do everything we're supposed to do, what's the big deal?" Edgewood's Chief Basssaid. In the end, the issue may be decided by the marketplace. The startup company hasn't lined up enough advertisers to deliver a single car. Allison acknowledged that it has been easier signing up police departments than sponsors. Once the concept catches on, he predicts, more national advertisers will sign up. But in the meantime, the company's failure to put new patrol cars on the street has prompted some police chiefs, already a suspicious lot, to rethink the deal. Maitland police Chief Edward Doyle said the idea of free cars sounded great, but he decided against it because none has been shipped. Mark Schlueb can be reached at mschlueb@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5417. Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel

11-01-2002, 06:22 AM	#2
Klaus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 2,383	Personally, I don't like the idea, but I support the right of towns to do it, if they wish. __________________ "Gee, Wally, Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!"

11-01-2002, 08:32 AM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	Sometimes it works . . . Well, I opposed putting vending machines on Navy warships, but they did it, it was a convenience, and it was okay. I opposed putting video games on the ships, they did it. I opposed putting vending machines and advertising in high schools, now they've done it, too. I guess this should be a local issue - if the citizens are okay with it, let 'em do it. It just doesn't seem proper to me. Does that make me an "old fogey"? What happens if one of the advertisers get's in legal trouble, and police cars with his logo on 'em show up? __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

11-01-2002, 10:24 AM	#5
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	Ethics have been sold out. It's a bad practice. I disapprove of the practice. Clearly it's a sign that business and ethic practices have been lowered, reduced, or sold out for the sake of gaining the highest dollar. Can't have it both ways. Either it's right or it's wrong. Public institutions who follow this practice infringe upon the rights of businesses to have open competition when they simply allow one business to pay them to use their advertising in public places. If the questionable practice takes place, at least the open bidding process should be required which should ensure the highest or best bidder to do their advertising. I'm not in favor of this practice, though, because as Big Dog pointed out, would the public employee favor the law breaker who has his paid for a commercial on their car or in some other public place? My experience, in particular with this issue, was in public schools. Coke and Pepsi tried to buy out the rights to exclusively sell their product at school events. For a lucrative share in the profits of their exclusive beverage sales, they wanted to be allowed to install their advertising in public places within the gymnasiums. In addition they offered to completely install new gym flooring with new logo's and school graphics. Beyond that they wanted to pay for completely renovating the football stadium press box. All of these projects represented huge monotary gains for the school at the expense of lowering their ethics. Personally, I was defintely not in favor of accepting these offerings but the superintendent of my school system overruled and sold out his ethics. That was wrong. If it was to be done then at least competitive bidding, open to the public, should have been required. Oxford __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". Last edited by Oxford; 11-01-2002 at 10:59 AM.

11-01-2002, 10:43 AM	#6
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	I see a potential for big problems including, but not limited to favoritism. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

11-01-2002, 08:18 AM	#3
Snakebite Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tucson, Mexico Posts: 1,839	Maybe the NRA can paint a big logo on the car.

11-01-2002, 11:11 AM	#7
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	Selling out for the dollar Oneastrix: I agree with you. There's a huge difference between allowing these practices in publicly owned places then in privately owned places. If the advertisement was on your patrol car wouldn't that at least cause a small influence on how you treat someone from that company? (Oneastrix, I totally believe that you personally wouldn't be influenced but someone with less integrity & ethics might be influenced.) Guess it could either turn you off so bad about that company that you'd throw the book at a violator or else just the opposite. Who knows? At least the appearance of favoritism is there and it's because the public institution is selling out to the dollar. OX __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

11-01-2002, 11:51 AM	#8
taras Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Apt.402-24 Carlton st. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. R3C 1P1 Posts: 403	Gotta agree with Ox on this one. We were gonna do it here in Winnipeg, for the cops to get cell phones but public opposition won out. __________________ If ya don't vote, don't ***** !!!

11-01-2002, 12:32 PM	#9
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,043 Images: 3	This patrol brought to you by...Reebok! When you need to run,buy the very best! __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

11-01-2002, 12:41 PM	#10
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Ox, I would definitely be influenced in the advertiser's favor. Human nature is human nature. That's why I wouldn't want an ad on my unit. Remember, the truest indicator of integrity in a situation like this is know what you would be influenced by, and avoiding those situations. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

11-01-2002, 02:37 PM	#11
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Geting hauled off for DUI in the Budwiser car......drug car by Bill's smoke and head shop.....accident reports by Daves body shop car.....Burglyry report taken by the ADT/Brinks Home secruity system car...sounds funny to me...but still some small towns cant afford the new cars...and still pay officers anything.

11-01-2002, 03:08 PM	#12
wes Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Loveland Co Posts: 1,906	Mary Kay Cosmetics,pink police car.

11-01-2002, 03:17 PM	#13
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs patrol car.....you've all seen their mascot vehicle! Imagine it with red and blues on it... __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

11-01-2002, 03:24 PM	#14
wes Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Loveland Co Posts: 1,906	Maybe have 'em play tunes like the Ice Cream trucks.

11-01-2002, 04:16 PM	#15
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	You've all got a great sense of humor about this situation. I'm sitting here busting a gut thinking about the possibilities you've suggested. OX :nod: __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

11-02-2002, 06:01 AM	#16
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Just a tape in the back of the car "Dude your going to Jail...buy a Dell"

11-02-2002, 08:41 AM	#17
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	Most of the pros and cons have been covered. I personally disagree with the idea. To me the police vehicle is a symbol to be respected and revelled. I think that police vehicles that begin to look like city buses or taxi cabs takes away from the publics ability to take them and the Officer(s) seriously. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me