Rainbow-covered Austin police cruiser unveiled to show solidarity with LGBT community

The Austin Police Department unveiled this Pride-themed vehicle as a means of showing support for the LGBTQ community. The Austin Police Department unveiled this Pride-themed vehicle as a means of showing support for the LGBTQ community. Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close Rainbow-covered Austin police cruiser unveiled to show solidarity with LGBT community 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

The Austin Police Department debuted a LGBT Pride-themed patrol vehicle with rainbows, stickers and decals supporting the sub-community of the state’s capital.

The pride vehicle is adorned with rainbow stickers, the words “Pride, Equality, Peace,” and various aspects of the patrol car are replaced by rainbow colors.

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The idea for the vehicle came up following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando that left 49 people dead. A corporal on the force noticed that the NYPD had made a patrol car with rainbow colors, decals and even a rainbow light bar, after the shooting to show support and solidarity for the LGBT community in New York, according to a news release.

The corporal then sent messages up the chain of command to Chief Art Acevedo, who agreed the Austin Police Department should do something similar.

Detective Michael Crumrine, who is also the president of the Lesbian & Gay Peace Officers Association, said during a press conference Thursday the chief saw this as a great way to use resources to show their support for the LGBT community.

“The chief saw the value in getting this done and ended up having the vehicle outfitted,” Crumrine said.

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The detective said this blatantly shows support for the LGBT community, which is exactly the point. It’s more than “empty rhetoric,” Crumrine said.

“The Austin Police Department stands with the LGBTQ community in support of the fallen souls that were tragically taken in Orlando,” Crumrine said.

This isn’t the first time the department has decorated a vehicle in this way for an group.

APD has done the same thing for the Komen Foundation, Click It or Ticket and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Crumrine said.

KXAN reported on the vehicle’s introduction and the response from commenters on Facebook has been mixed. Some have praised the vehicle’s design, while others have claimed the vehicle doesn’t look professional. Others have sparked concerns over how the sticker job on the vehicle was paid for.

Crumrine said during the press conference the vehicle’s sticker job cost was minimal.

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The vehicle will be a part of this year’s Austin Pride Festival on Aug. 27, but until then, the vehicle will be driven around town by a variety of people, including officers, to give the vehicle a presence in the Austin community.

Austin Pride starts Aug. 20, with the festival and parade taking place on Aug. 27.

Once the parade is over, the vehicle will return to its regular look and be used as a patrol vehicle.

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite