By Terry Murry on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON โ New police cars have finally arrived at the Pendleton Police Department, and they are distinctly different from the familiar blue Fords. Chief Chuck Byram said after waiting for over a year for the new cars, he was more limited than in the past.
โThey didnโt offer blue anymore,โ he said. โWe had a choice of black and white. Thatโs what we had. I knew that county was already driving white, so I didnโt want to get our cars mixed up. Nobody around here is driving black, so I chose the black cars.โ
Byram said the switch to black also meant a change in the carsโ graphics.
โWe went to a more muted style of graphics on those cars that are reflective in nature, so they really light up at night,โ he said. โYouโre going to be seeing black patrol cars with muted patterns on them, with a light bar on top. Weโre excited about them because theyโre sorely needed.โ
The three new vehicles were ordered last year. The year before that, police cars were not available at all.