The Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany is showcasing a significant upgrade to its Marine Corps Police Department vehicles. These aren’t just cosmetic changes; they represent a strategic move towards standardization across the entire Marine Corps, driven by the Marine Corps Civilian Law Enforcement Program at Headquarters Marine Corps. This initiative is designed to ensure uniformity in police vehicle design, enhancing interoperability and recognition across different Marine Corps bases.
According to Lt. Perry Mixon, Assistant Operations Officer for the Marine Corps Police Department at MCLB Albany, this standardization is crucial for operational effectiveness. “The Headquarters Marine Corps program enables Marine Corps law enforcement to support each other as necessary without the need for Civilian-Marine police officers or Marine military police to get reacquainted with the basic Marine Corps police vehicle and equipment,” Lt. Mixon explained. This means that officers and vehicles can be deployed to different bases and operate seamlessly, as the vehicle design and equipment layout will be consistent. “Essentially, with this program in place, a Marine Corps police vehicle and officer could be detailed to another Marine Corps base and look uniform,” he added, highlighting the benefit of instant recognition and familiarity.
One of the most immediately noticeable aspects of this standardization is the updated paint scheme. The new design incorporates distinctive elements to improve visibility and identification. These include two prominent Iwo Jima drawings near the rear window, a clearly visible police officer badge or shield, bold red and blue lettering, and bright yellow reflective striping. Mixon emphasized that these visual cues are designed to aid rapid identification by the base community, especially in emergency situations.
Bill McNulty, Director of the Public Safety Division at MCLB Albany, further elaborated on the need for this unified approach. “Before 2010, there were no unified criteria or standard for painting police cars, so each Marine Corps base created their own designs for patrol vehicles,” McNulty stated. This lack of uniformity could lead to confusion and hinder inter-base operability. “The point of the paint job is to make the car easy to see, look distinctive and consistent throughout the Marine Corps,” McNulty clarified. The standardized paint design serves as a crucial visual tool for immediate recognition and public assurance.
However, the design overhaul goes beyond just aesthetics. As Lt. Mixon pointed out, “The design is just a small portion of the package.” Each vehicle is also receiving significant interior upgrades to enhance functionality and officer safety. These upgrades are comprehensive and include:
- Exterior Light Bar: For enhanced visibility during emergency responses and traffic control.
- Siren, 100-watt Speaker, and Light Control Box: Essential for audible and visual alerts, ensuring effective communication and warning capabilities.
- Clear Front Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Flashers: Providing bright and energy-efficient forward-facing emergency lighting.
- Red and Blue Rear LED Flashers: Standard emergency lighting configuration for rear visibility and signaling.
- Red and Blue Front Grill LED Lights: Additional forward emergency lights integrated into the vehicle grill for increased visual impact.
- Red and Blue Rear Interior Floor LED Lights: Interior emergency lights to enhance visibility within the vehicle and for rear signaling.
- Console System: A modernized console for organizing and controlling vehicle equipment and communication systems.
- Electronic Dual Gun Rack: Secure and easily accessible storage for firearms, enhancing officer readiness and safety.
- Full Partition Cage with Sliding Window: Providing secure separation between the front and rear compartments of the vehicle, crucial for officer safety and suspect transport.
- Steel Windows Bar: Additional window protection for enhanced officer safety.
- Window Tinting Package: Providing privacy and reducing glare, contributing to officer comfort and operational effectiveness.
- Reflective Graphic Package: Beyond the paint scheme, reflective graphics further enhance vehicle visibility, especially in low-light conditions.
- Equipment Installation Package: Ensuring professional and standardized installation of all new equipment.
“The new vehicles will be used for base-wide police patrolling, perimeter security checks, traffic enforcement operations and community policing events,” Mixon stated, outlining the operational roles of these upgraded vehicles. He further emphasized their proactive function: “The vehicle will consistently serve as a crime deterrent tool of the Marine Corps Police Department.” The highly visible and standardized design, coupled with advanced equipment, enhances the police department’s ability to maintain security and serve the base community.
While several vehicles already feature the new design, the MCPD is awaiting full funding to complete all upgrades. According to Mixon, the goal is to finalize these upgrades by 2016, ensuring full compliance with the Headquarters Marine Corps initiative. This comprehensive standardization of police vehicle design marks a significant step forward in enhancing Marine Corps law enforcement capabilities and ensuring consistent public safety measures across all bases.
