By Gregory Jacobs Santa Monica
Should we paint police cars black and white or stay with blue and white? When it comes to cops’colors, how about mimicking a beating in black and blue? The logic for “pro” says tourists need to recognize cops on sight. The argument for “con” worries about an aggressive image over which someone may sue.
They’re cops with sticks and guns, aggression already part of the job. Fighting over a paint job with these thoughts is just wrong.
Attack the cost instead. An empty budget says skip the paint job. But, who cares what color the cars are, when the bank balance is strong?
Two hundred cars at $4,000 (each) is $800,000. Citizens at the body shop pay half, but they can haggle.
FDR taught us government can inject money into the economy like flowing sand. Did the body shops lobby City Hall? If so, our fingers will waggle. Once the paint dries, the issue will pass, now so tender. One thing to consider, do cops want the change for the stated reason?
A cop once said on hot days he enjoys putting suspects hands on a black fender. Since 9-11 even to suggest any flawed cop personalities is called treason. So follow the money and see which body shops get paid. Time and fairness says evenly divide the work. But, if a few get more jobs; well the trap has been laid. And someone will use a mirror to reflect sunlight into the murk.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 11, 2006. Read the original PDF.