NYPD unveils vehicle rooftop electronic display panel

The NYPD is taking its messages on the road.

Tuesday, the nation's largest police force pressed into service 10 patrol cars equipped with special rooftop electronic display panels that can flash or scroll traffic alert notices.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly rolled out some of the first specially outfitted cars at a news conference in the courtyard of Police Plaza in lower Manhattan. He said eventually about 2,800 police vehicles will be equipped with the display units.

The rear-facing electronic display flashes messages through blue light-emitting diodes, a color Kelly said tests had found to be the best for both day and night conditions.

Officers in the vehicles can choose among some 50 prepared messages. The displays can also be activated by local commanders with messages customized for road and traffic situations as they develop, Kelly said.

Four of the vehicles are being deployed in the midtown area and the remaining six spread among highway patrol units in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, said Deputy Insp. Vincent LoRusso, commander of the NYPD fleet services unit.

Very few police departments in the country have the LED displays, LoRusso said. The displays will be attached to patrol car roof racks that also contain the flashing red and blue lights. The highway unit vehicles will also have two high-powered spotlights on the roof rack configuration, said LoRusso.

Kelly made a reference to the blue color when asked for a comment about the passing of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner: "You might say this is Yankee Blue George Steinbrenner today."

Messages on the move

Among the messages that can be displayed atop some NYPD patrol cars:

Source: NYPD