PT Cruiser donated to the Newport Police Department

[skylight]

Donated PT Cruiser will be used by school resource officer, serves as point of interest to students

NEWPORT -- The new PT Cruiser donated to the Newport Police Department on Thursday was only designed to get the department's school resource officer back and forth to the town's school, but police and school officials hope the car will go beyond the parking lot Nokomis High School and right into the hearts and minds of its students.

"It's the joining together of the school and police department," said Chief Leonard Macdaid. "That's the biggest thing. This is our bridge between the school and police department."

The 2006 PT Cruiser has the standard 4-cylinder engine under the hood, but on the outside the custom paint job is a sign of the building relationship between the police and School Administrative District 48 schools in Newport.

Written in red lettering on the hood, over the black, gold-flecked paint that makes the car look fast even as it is sitting still, are the writing and emblem for the Nokomis Warrior.

The word "Police" has been scrawled just above, at the top of the windshield. Red stripes rush down both sides. Chrome wheels and wide tires, chrome rocker panels and tailpipe and a spoiler make the car stand out from other Cruisers and probably will make it the envy of students at the high school.

"We tried to make it a little flashier," said Adam Lee, president of Lee Auto Malls' Lee Credit Express of Newport, which donated the car.

The car, which still has to be fitted with lights and a siren, will serve Kevin Wintle, the police department's school resource officer. Not only will he use it to make routine traffic stops in the morning to slow the rush to Nokomis High School, but the car will be parked and visible at all football and basketball games.

Wintle, who has 15 years experience as a police officer, took over the school resource position last year.

Among his duties, Wintle teaches the McGruff Crime Dog program at the Newport/Plymouth Elementary School, a life skills program at Sebasticook Valley Middle School and assists Principal Arnold Shorey at the high school with discipline.

"He's a great resource for our school," Shorey said. "Even though he's not a teacher he comes at his job with an educational component, teaching the students about choices."

Working with students at every grade level will allow Wintle to get to know the students, Wintle said. He can already see those relationships paying off. Fighting, drug possession and other crimes have dropped at the school, Wintle said.

"We feel the juvenile crime rate has really dropped," Wintle said.

The new Cruiser will help cement the relationship between the school and police department by offering a visible reminder, Shorey said.

"When kids see him drive up in the car it's going to be great recognition," he said.


Source: MaineToday.com

[CREWZIN]

Our local County Sheriff's Resource Officer has one also with a full light kit and a killer stereo.

[soonercruiser]

Now that's just too cool! What kid could hate a cop drivin' a cruiser??