LAW and ORDER magazine has announced the winners of the 2008 International Police Vehicle Design Contest.

The annual contest was started more than 20 years ago, but in 2004, LAW and ORDER magazine took the redevelopment of vehicle design to a new level with the introduction of marking guidelines. The guidelines tried to turn a fairly subjective method for marking and identifying police vehicles into a standardized system.

This year’s contest was judged by three law enforcement professionals who are in various public safety positions.

The 2008 Police Vehicle Design Contest judging was based on the integrity of the designs submitted to the competition, as well as how each design met the criteria as outlined in the contest guidelines. The 2008 Vehicle Design judges focused on the safety of the officer driving and the ability to identify it as a law enforcement vehicle. The judges looked for departmental symbols, names in easy-to-read lettering, a badge, shield or community seal, emergency phone numbers and Web sites. For visibility, the judges looked for reflective tape, chevron, and decals.

GRAND PRIZE: Pendleton Police Department, Pendleton, IN

MUNICIPAL, OVER 50 OFFICERS, EAST
FIRST PLACE: Forest Park Police Department, Forest Park, GA
SECOND PLACE: Gaston County Police Department, Gastonia, NC

MUNICIPAL, OVER 50 OFFICERS, WEST
FIRST PLACE: Euless Police Department, Euless, TX
SECOND PLACE: Littleton Police Department, Littleton, CO

MUNICIPAL, 10-50 OFFICERS, EAST
FIRST PLACE: Markham Police Department, Markham, IL
SECOND PLACE: Clarendon Hills Police Department, Clarendon Hills, IL
THIRD PLACE: Porter Police Department, Porter, IN
FOURTH PLACE: Mayodan Police Department, Mayodan, NC

MUNICIPAL, 10-50 OFFICERS, WEST
FIRST PLACE: Country Club Hills Police Department , St. Louis, MO
SECOND PLACE: Avon Police Department, Avon, CO
THIRD PLACE: Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe, TX
FOURTH PLACE: Pittsburg Police Department, Pittsburg, TX

BEST TRUCK: Three Rivers Park District Police, Maple Plain, MN

MUNICIPAL, UNDER 10 OFFICERS, EAST
FIRST PLACE: Chester Police Department, Chester, IL
SECOND PLACE: South Bloomfield Division of Police, South Bloomfield, OH
THIRD PLACE: St. Gabriel Police Department, St. Gabriel, LA

BEST TRUCK: Colfax Police Department, Colfax, IN

MUNICIPAL, UNDER 10 OFFICERS, WEST
FIRST PLACE: Lakeview Police Department, Lakeview, AR
SECOND PLACE: Boerne Police Department, Boerne, TX
THIRD PLACE: Palmyra Police Department, Palmyra, MO

SHERIFF, UP TO 25 OFFICERS, EAST
FIRST PLACE: Yates County Sheriff’s Office , Penn Yan, NY
SECOND PLACE: Hampton County Sheriff’s Office , Hampton, SC

SHERIFF, UP TO 25 OFFICERS, WEST
FIRST PLACE: Hodgeman County Sheriff’s Office, Jetmore, KS
SECOND PLACE: Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, Menomonie, WI

SHERIFF, OVER 25 OFFICERS, EAST
FIRST PLACE: Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson City, TN
SECOND PLACE: Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, Shawano, WI
THIRD PLACE: Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Hendersonville, NC

BEST TRUCK: Bullitt County Sheriff, Shepherdsville, KY

SHERIFF, OVER 25 OFFICERS, WEST
FIRST PLACE: Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Kennewick, WA
SECOND PLACE: Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma City, OK

FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES
FIRST PLACE: Virginia State Police, Richmond, VA
SECOND PLACE: Minnesota State Patrol, St. Paul, MN
THIRD PLACE: California Highway Patrol, Sacramento, CA

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
FIRST PLACE: University of Kentucky Police, Lexington, KY
SECOND PLACE: Coastal Carolina University DPS, Conway, SC

BEST SWAT VEHICLE
FIRST PLACE: Eagle County Sheriff, Eagle, CO
SECOND PLACE: Martinez Police Department, Martinez, CA

BEST SUPPORT VEHICLE, COMMAND POST, CSI VEHICLE
FIRST PLACE: Newport News Police Department, Newport News, VA
SECOND PLACE: Iowa Police Department, Iowa, LA

BEST COMMUNITY RELATIONS (DARE, GREAT)
FIRST PLACE: Tuscaloosa Police Department, Tuscaloosa, AL
SECOND PLACE: Altamonte Springs Pol. Dept., Altamonte Springs, FL

BEST MOTORCYCLE
FIRST PLACE: Converse Police Department, Converse, TX
SECOND PLACE: Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, Baraboo, WI

BEST OFF-ROAD VEHICLE
FIRST PLACE: Point Pleasant Beach Police Dept., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
SECOND PLACE: Greenwich Township Police Department, Stewartsville, NJ

BEST FORD CROWN VICTORIA
Loudon Police Department, Loudon, TN

BEST CHEVY IMPALA
Town of Vienna Police Department, Vienna, VA

BEST DODGE CHARGER
Alsip Police Department, Alsip, IL

BEST SUV
Michigan State University Police Department, East Lansing, MI

MOST EFFECTIVE FROM THE REAR
Ruidoso Downs Department of Public Safety, Ruidoso Downs, NM