The cars, purchased from funding in the city's budget for this fiscal year, feature a new look and a nod to the department's past as well as its present.

“I think the graphics are much more reflective of the community and the pride the the community has in the department,” City Manager Joseph Scherer said this morning. “It's reflective of a budget stable enough to upgrade our fleet.”

The city bought five 2013 Dodge Chargers to replace an aging fleet of blue and silver Ford Crown Victorias that hit the 100,000 mile mark, Chief Tommy Hathaway said, the mark that determines retirement from the fleet.

The new Yellow Jacket logo.

Surprisingly, Captain Andy Jackson said, the Chargers, bought on state contract, are cheaper than Fords and Chevrolets.

“It's a cost-saving measure,” Hathaway said. “Every police department across the nation is doing this.”

The Chargers won't hit the street until they are equipped with standard equipment — radios, video cameras and laptops — Hathaway said. Two of the cars will be slick tops with no light bars while three will feature the standard light bars on top.

Hathaway credited Express Signs for the graphics work while Jackson said Sergeant Winnie Bowens was instrumental in the initial concept.

The old Strength and Justice patch.

With the purchase of the new cars, came a chance for a redesign, not only to honor the community but to honor the police department's past.

One of the additions to the cruiser is the new Roanoke Rapids High School Yellow Jacket the school's football team is using on its helmets this year. “The colors are representative of our local high school,” Hathaway said. “For a majority of our law enforcement officers, this is their alma mater.”

Jackson said gold also happens to be more reflective and the badge at the door panel not only lets the public know they're seeing a patrol car but the badge is a replica of the one Roanoke Rapids officers wear on their uniforms. “The badge adds character to the car.”

The badge is a replica of the one's officers wear.

The new colors fall in line with the ones public works and the fire department use, the chief said. “We haven't reinvented the wheel, we just wanted to follow.”

Then there is the “Strength and Justice” motto on the front side of the car, a slogan that harkens back decades before the police department changed their sleeve patches in the early 2000s. “Strength and justice goes back into history,” Jackson said. “We have had three officers die wearing that patch.”

The Don't Get Stung logo.

There is a surprise message around the trunk lid warning, “Don't get stung,” and at the bottom rear is the city's website address. “Everyone is caught up in the worldwide web,” Hathaway said. “From the website they can go to the police department's web page and get to look up police department numbers.”