Police cruisers go commercial

FORT WAYNE -- A debate that has played out across much of the nation has arrived in northeastern Indiana, where several law enforcement agencies are considering letting sponsors pay to put ads on police cars. A few already plan to proceed.\nThe practice can save taxpayers money. But critics say turning police cars into billboards on wheels cheapens the profession's image.\nIn exchange for allowing local and national companies to sponsor a few advertisements, a North Carolina-based company called Government Acquisitions will lease fully equipped cars to municipalities for $1. Such cars typically cost around $30,000 and must be replaced every three to five years.\nKen Allison, president of Government Acquisitions, said the program was started as a way for corporations to help homeland security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.\n"When somebody shows up with a fire vehicle or a police vehicle -- somebody who has to protect and serve -- and you see an advertiser on there, you know that company is responsible for paying the money used to help the community," Allison told The Journal Gazette for a story published Sunday.\nAds can go on the hood, bumpers, trunk lid, roof and small areas on the side of the cars. Most of the side of a car would still be reserved for police logos and identifiers.\nWhen a department decides to request a vehicle from Government Acquisitions, the first step is to win approval from either the city council or county commissioners.\nA request will then be sent to the company, and Government Acquisitions begins soliciting ads for the cars.\nDepartments have the right to refuse an ad, and Government Acquisitions bars ads for alcohol, tobacco and firearms.\nAn ad's cost depends on its size. A small sticker near a window could run for less than $100. But the cost of bigger ads can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.\nGarrett, a city of about 5,800 people north of Fort Wayne, was among Indiana's first municipalities to pursue the cars and has submitted requests for three.\n"With the budgets and stuff the way they are, any way for me to keep the cost down, I'm always looking at," Police Chief Rex Harpel said.