By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Public safety vehicles in Fultondale are undergoing a facelift.

Mayor Jim Lowery said this week that police cars in the city are in the process of getting a new striping scheme.

Additionally, three new police cars recently obtained by the city will also have the new design.

“I let the police department pick it,” Lowery said. “This is part of the process of continuing to upgrade.”

Lowery said the new striping will give the cars a new look, but will also provide further safety measures. He said officers have told him that the new striping reflects light better at night.

Police Chief Byron Pigg said the new striping just reflects the growth of the city.

“As the city grows and changes its look, we want to stay updated and change ours too,” Pigg said.

Lowery said the addition of the new police cars will help a growing department that will continue to add more officers throughout the year.

He said ideally, Fultondale’s Police department would consist of about 25 officers.

The updated equipment and addition of personnel precedes the opening of the Colonial Properties shopping center, scheduled to open in the fall.

Lowery said the department needs additional officers and police cars to provide adequate safety measures for shoppers and merchants.

Pigg said a new officer will begin working on July 10 and another is scheduled to begin working on Aug. 17.

He said as many as four officers may be hired in the months after the August hire.

Pigg said it will take at least six more officers to allow the department to patrol the shopping center while also providing protection to residents.

He said he would like to keep an officer on duty at the shopping center at all times within business hours.

Pigg said he’s looking into the possibility of having an officer patrol the shopping center on an all-terrain vehicle, allowing more flexibility of patrolling the parking lot and going from business to business.

“We want to be ready when those businesses open,” he said. “We want to have high visibility and to serve their needs.”