2017 FILE PHOTO — Students from the Napavine School District pose next to an updated Napavine police car, now featuring tiger-themed graphics, along with Napavine Police Chief Salyers and Brett Daugherty, owner of Young Gun Northwest in Chehalis.
While perusing Facebook Wednesday morning, the word “POLICE” in bright orange letters caught my eye in a photo as it whizzed through my timeline.
Napavine’s new “tiger car” design on Police Chief Chris Salyers’ patrol vehicle is striking! In fact, dare I say, it’s such a “contrast” to what we’ve seen from other local agency updates to law enforcement vehicle graphics.
It’s also reminiscent of Centralia Police Department’s “tiger car” driven by their school resource officer for the Centralia School District.
I called Chief Salyers almost as soon as I saw the photo. When he answered the phone, I said: “Hey, just calling about your new police car!”
Salyers cooly responded by stating, “Well, it’s not a new car.”
Touche. I knew that, but he was right to correct me.
I said: “Okay, fair enough. I’m calling about the new graphics on your car.”
“Oh that little thing,” he replied coyly.
After everything I’ve written about marked and unmarked vehicles, I appreciated the light-hearted ribbing and banter.
I asked Salyers what the impetus for the vehicle graphics update was, because as long as I could remember as a local resident, I don’t ever remember Napavine Police Department having an actual marked vehicle.
“The funding became available this year. We’ve been working on the design since around … the first of the year.” Salyers said. “We wanted it done before school started … but I just drove it home last (Tuesday) night. … It all comes down to funding.”
So, how did the funding become available this year?
“This came from the money that I pulled double duty as the acting fire chief. The city charged (Lewis County) District 5 $2,000 a month. That money went to three new computers and marking this car,” the chief told me.
Salyers says he wasn’t interested in being paid extra for his “double duty” and that the $2,000 per month fees went back to the city of Napavine. Salyers had hoped that some would be left over for the police department.
Salyers said that, initially, the city council wasn’t interested in marking their law enforcement vehicles … until they laid eyes on the “tiger car” concept designs.
When I asked if the graphics update was related at all to community concerns about his previously unmarked vehicle being used for traffic control in school zones, he responded thoughtfully.
“The community makes my decision,” he said, adding that he put a lot of thought into the decision. But when asked again if community feedback was a factor, he stated that “this was not a response to the community.”
Salyers also added that he only recollects that he’s written three stop sign-related tickets this year. He says that, often, he sits in his car in front of Napavine schools while he is doing paperwork, and that citizens were mistaken about the chief conducting traffic enforcement.
Salyers also says that he personally walks through Napavine schools at least once a week.
Many of my friends who live and have children who attend Napavine schools also have mentioned their appreciation for Salyers’ involvement and engagement with Napavine students.
Salyers said the feedback on the new graphics had been mostly positive. Some Napavine residents pondered why the new graphics were tiger-themed and in school colors.
But Chief Salyers cracked a proud smile as he was telling me this.
“Every minute was worth the look on the kids’ faces,” he added.
Later that afternoon, when I stopped by Napavine City Hall personally, Salyers gave Bob Bozarth and me a firsthand, personal “tour” of the new graphics. Salyers was still grinning ear-to-ear talking about how much the Napavine students loved the new vehicle graphics.
“I’d have paid for it out of my own pocket to see the looks on the kids’ faces again.”
As I stood directly in front of the newly marked police car, I honestly couldn’t help but be impressed. Bob Bozarth also seemed impressed.
As Salyers, Bozarth and I continued to chat in the parking lot, Bozarth mentioned that he had brought a copy of the RCW language regarding marked and unmarked law enforcement vehicle to a city council meeting where Bozarth had reviewed the plans for the new design. He said he was ready to “blast” the plans, but he couldn’t do it — he loved it.
And, on those points, I have to agree with Bob Bozarth.
RCW 46.08.065 requires that marked public vehicles be marked with the agency or department and the governing authority displayed on both sides of the vehicle in a color (or colors) contrasting to the color of the vehicle.
By all accounts, it’s a well-marked vehicle. You don’t need to depend on light to reflect to be able to see the bright orange “POLICE” and “City of Napavine” text reverse contrasted. It stands out.
And, Salyers says he couldn’t be more proud to drive it.
So, what’s in the near future for Napavine Police Department?
Napavine has two other cars they’re looking at adding graphics to. One is the car currently utilized by Officer Shields, and the other is a 2018 Ford F-150 that the city of Napavine just ordered.
“The cars just aren’t that great in the snow,” said Salyers of ordering the new truck.
Napavine is hoping to hire a third officer next year.
After talking about vehicles and graphics, Salyers and I had a conversation about community policing and his philosophies and views on law enforcement. Salyers notes that he’s been a law enforcement officer in three different states, having driven marked and unmarked vehicles, and he’s seen a lot in his career. His perspectives were fascinating and I appreciated his frank, direct and personable discussion of the issues.
I walked away from our conversation — while not necessarily agreeing on everything — feeling wholly positive about the interaction.
Bravo, Chief Salyers, the Napavine City Council and residents. Chief Salyers seems to be ushering in a new era of policing in your community.
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Brittany Voie is The Chronicle’s senior media developer. She welcomes correspondence from the community by email at bvoie@chronline.com.
