Hanover County Sheriff’s Office introduces updated patrol vehicle design

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Hanover County Sheriff's Office has introduced a new decal design for its patrol vehicles.

On Thursday, March 19, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office announced the introduction of a new design for its patrol vehicle fleet, which it said "blend[s] tradition with a modern approach to public safety and visibility."

The sheriff's office said the updated fleet will feature two distinct patrol vehicle styles. The first has a traditional appearance with a roof-mounted light bar.

Officials said the second design is a "slick top" design for patrol supervision, which removes the external light bar and incorporates emergency lighting within the windshield and along the sides of the vehicle below the doors.

Both designs were intended to enhance operational flexibility while maintaining a "professional and recognizable presence in the community."

(Photo: Hanover County Sheriff's Office)

(Photo: Hanover County Sheriff's Office)

(Photo: Hanover County Sheriff's Office)

The sheriff's office said a key feature of the new design is increased visibility.

"The updated decals are larger and utilize highly reflective materials, improving the ability of motorists and pedestrians to quickly identify law enforcement vehicles—particularly in low-light conditions," the sheriff's office said in a press release.

The rollout of the new design will occur gradually over the next 12 to 18 months.

Officials said new vehicles purchased to replace older, high-mileage units will receive the updated decals. In addition, existing vehicles with lower mileage may be updated selectively -- particularly in cases where repairs or repainting already require the vehicle's decal to be replaced.

Older vehicles nearing the end of their service life will not be updated with the new design and will instead be replaced through the normal vehicle replacement cycle, after which new vehicles will get the updated decals.

During the transition period, the sheriff's office said residents can expect to see both the current and new patrol vehicle designs throughout Hanover County.