The St. Joseph Police Department vehicles are in the process of getting a makeover.

Where the words “Protection, Service, Partnership” once were, now simply states “Police.”

Cmdr. Larry Smith said due to the deteriorating condition of the graphics on many of the police cars, the department decided to get new ones.

“We picked out six different looks that met some criteria we had,” Mr. Smith said. “Then, we let the guys vote, and they almost unanimously picked one.”

Officer Eric Powell spends his entire shift inside a police car. He likes the simpler new graphics.

“It should go without saying,” Mr. Powell said in reference to the old graphics. He also said less is more when it comes to the new look of his squad car.

The graphics weren’t scheduled to arrive until Sept. 16 but came early, and Mr. Smith got a jump on the makeover, which began Friday.

Mr. Smith said most of the old graphics were anywhere between five and seven years old and were beginning to fade.

Until now, many of the cars had varying graphics. The new graphics will be placed on all vehicles for a more uniform look.

Cost for the new graphics is $210 per car plus some supply and installation. However, Mr. Smith said members of the department removed the old graphics themselves and are applying some of the new ones to help save money.

Although many words have been removed for a simpler look, the Police Department’s Web site will now appear on vehicles, courtesy of the new graphics.

The vehicles’ new look should be completed within the next few days.

Megan Tilk can be reached at megantilk@npgco.com.