NYPD replacing iconic 'Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect' slogan on new patrol cars
An NYPD patrol car bearing the three-word slogan in use since 1997. Credit: Danielle Silverman
The NYPD is gradually doing away with the iconic decals that proclaim “Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect” on its patrol cars. The new slogan: “Fighting Crime, Protecting The Public,” adorns the newest marked patrol cars in the citywide fleet, 125 units in all, with more to come, the NYPD said Thursday.
The update comes at a price. The new slogan decals cost $2,091 per car to install, $1,390 more than the old slogan decal.
In a statement Thursday, the NYPD said: “This increase in cost is due to changes made mid-contract and other factors, including the use of reflective material (which were included in the design to increase safety and visibility), the printing of color onto the decal, the lamination of the decal, an increase in the amount of material used and the additional time and labor to install it.”
An NYPD spokesperson said the redesign deleting the old slogan from new marked patrol units was announced during the State of the NYPD in 2023. That design was “recently updated” to include the new catchphrase, adding: “As new vehicles are purchased by the NYPD they will be outfitted with the new decals before they are delivered to the NYPD.”
The reason for the change wasn't clear.
It's also not clear if New York City Department of Environmental Protection police will be updating their current vehicle slogan, which reads: “Dedication, Excellence, Pride.”
Many law enforcement agencies across Long Island don't have slogans or catchphrases on their marked vehicles.
Nassau County police units are adorned with car and precinct numbers as well as the departmental emblem, while Suffolk County police have the words “Accredited Agency” included in their vehicle striping.
Some departments have variations of the 911 emergency number theme, Amityville police units marked “EMERGENCY Dial 911,” while Southold has “Emergency 911" and Lynbrook police “Call 911.” Some, such as East Hampton, Freeport, Riverhead, Southampton Town, Port Washington and others simply are marked with the agency name and the decal “Dial 911.”
Most agencies simply note their departmental name.
Garden City, Hempstead, Malverne, Long Beach, Muttontown Upper Brookville and Sag Harbor simply note affiliation, usually accompanied by a crest or seal.
New York State police units are marked with the words: “Trooper” or “State Trooper” and the words “State Police.”
A few local departments include some sort of catchphrase or slogan on their marked patrol units.
Old Westbury police have the slogan “Excellence in Policing” incorporated in the seal adorning marked vehicles, the village seal flanked by an American flag on one side the state flag on the other.
The City of Glen Cove has police vehicles marked with a crest featuring an American bald eagle and 1918, the city's incorporation date, as well as the phrase: “Committed to Excellence.”
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
'This entire street is a hamburger highway' Join Newsday food writer Andi Berlin as she eats at burger restaurants along Long Beach Road, which she has dubbed the "Hamburger Highway."
'This entire street is a hamburger highway' Join Newsday food writer Andi Berlin as she eats at burger restaurants along Long Beach Road, which she has dubbed the "Hamburger Highway."
