The city council of Laguna Beach, Calif. is reconsidering the design recently implemented on its new police vehicles — a prominent American flag graphic — after some community members expressed shock and concern at the “aggressive” logo. In early March, 11 Laguna Beach Police Department squad cars were rolled out. The word “police” features prominently across the side of each vehicle, painted in an Old Glory-inspired red, white and blue design. And while some in the community take pride in the patriotic look, others find it problematic. Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo’s newsletter. One resident, designer Chris Prelitz, told the Times Community News that when he and his wife first noticed the new design while dining out, it was because he saw parents and children outside “scattering” around a group of patrol cars. “There was like a little panic going on, and I was like, ‘What’s happening? '” he told the publication. “When one of [the cars is] there, it works. But all of a sudden, I saw, wow, when there are three, maybe four of them together, folks thought it was a SWAT team, federal agents. So it had a very striking, strong impact, so much so that I think there might be some unintended consequences.” At a March 19th city council meeting, several Laguna beach residents spoke up about their resistance to the new design. Carrie Woodburn, a local artist, reportedly said it was “shocking to see the boldness of the design,” which said “felt very aggressive.” An American flag-inspired logo emblazoned across the Laguna Beach Police Department’s newest squad cars is dividing the community. (Photo: Courtesy of Twitter/Laguna Beach Police) Woodburn later clarified her opinion on Facebook, writing, “for the record, I have no objection to the black-and-white cars.” She added, “I have no issue with our American flag. My personal observation was that it felt aggressive and may not best represent our community.” Even city council spokesperson Peter Blake told Yahoo Lifestyle that Woodburn “came out and said something that would make perfect sense otherwise,” as city council often does defer to input from artists in the community. “She didn’t realize that she would be stepping on a political landmine.” Story continues The impetus for that landmine, according to Blake, was “a vocal minority of political activists,” whom he calls “extremists” that initially fought the new black-and-white design for police vehicles. When they lost that battle, Blake said, they went after the stars and stripes. “They even went to the American Legion to determine if it was disrespectful for the flag to be chopped up [within the letters],” Blake said. So the city council appointed Laguna Beach police chief Laura Farinella to green light the final logo. “We trust the police chief with the safety of the community,” Blake said. “We can trust her with the decision of what police cars will look like.” Blake told Yahoo Lifestyle that an overwhelming majority of community members are on board with the American flag logo. Attorney Jennifer Welsh Zeiter called the decorated Ford Explorers “exceptional” at the city council meeting, and said that those who vocally oppose the design are “so filled with hatred toward this … office of the president of the United States and the current occupant of that office that they cannot see through their current biases to realize that a police vehicle with the American flag is the ultimate American expression.” Laguna Beach Police Cpl. Ryan Hotchkiss, president of the Laguna Beach Police Employees Association, spoke at the meeting to say that he has only heard positive feedback about the new vehicle he drives. “Every time I came to a stop sign, every time I came to a red light, somebody is telling me the car looks great,” Hotchkiss said. “Every one of our members that drives the car loves it, and we look forward to keeping them the way they are.” Mayor Steve Dicterow seemed to defend the new design, implying that the logo and the new black-and-white paint job are intentionally bold. “This is about safety,” Dicterow said. “I want anybody to see it, period.” Community members will discuss the controversial design and try to come to a resolution at a new city council meeting scheduled for Tuesday. They’re doing so “out of an abundance of caution to address questions that have been raised about the process,” said city manager John Pietig, according to the Times Community News. On social media, community members who support the design are encouraging others to attend the meeting in order to defend the flag. Some are simply voicing their support. Design of new Laguna Beach PD car is wonderful! Don't feel bullied into changing this great graphic! High visability…is wanted in a police vehicle…easier to spot when I'm speeding down PCH…Just Kidding! But, seriously, it's a great design. @lagunabeachgov @LagunaBeachPD pic.twitter.com/UFR4HiKeZf — Rose DeSimone (@rosedesimone) April 15, 2019 The American flag on a police car is too “aggressive” apparently. This is over the top and ridiculous. https://t.co/fPhkK0RnBp#standyourground #thinblueline — Kimberly💋 (@kdove) April 15, 2019 And some are publicly condemning the design. One more step towards a total police state. Next step is to require everyone to salute as they drive past. https://t.co/JnkM03bGt0 — The American Police State (@ThePoliceStateX) April 15, 2019 Which is more tacky? — Jonathan Nightingale (@Flostation) April 16, 2019 Because of California’s Brown Act, which guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in legislative meetings, the city council must listen to comments — both dissenting and otherwise — from the community before making a final decision on whether to keep or scrap the patriotic police car design. Blake has no idea what the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting will be, but told Yahoo Lifestyle he thinks it will be “an absolute absurdity if we didn’t allow the flag to stand.” Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.<doc-sep>“Clearly, the way it looks on the car is not what anyone expected it to look like,” Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow told the Los Angeles Times. “I think it’s reasonable that we’re going to look at it again so that whatever we [approve] is exactly what we put on the car.”<doc-sep>
LAGUNA BEACH (CBSLA) – Decals emblazoned with the American flag that have been placed on the side of Laguna Beach police patrol vehicles are sparking some discussion in the Orange County oceanside town. The large new decals, which began appearing on patrol vehicles in late February, have prompted debate over their whether they are patriotic or too aggressive. The design which ended up on the vehicles had a much bolder look than the one which the Laguna Beach City Council chose in February, according to the Los Angeles Times. But for City Councilman Peter Blake and others, there is nothing to debate. “This is a government vehicle driven by government workers in the United States of America,” said Black. “Come on..we can talk about this all day long, it’s still a joke.” One resident said he’s fine with the design, but questioned why the word “police” was placed on the side doors of the cars. “The badge on the side of the car..that’s all we really need to see,” said Craig Everhart. “You don’t need to be billboarding that you are police. We already know that. Honestly you could save money by not putting that big giant decal.” On Tuesday night, the city council is expected to vote on whether to keep the design or choose an alternative. In a statement to CBSLA, the Laguna Beach Police Employees Association said the officers love the new design: “We feel that having the American Flag displayed on our police vehicles symbolizes all of the good things that this city, county, state and country not only stand for but strive to achieve.”