Cops Who Hop
Police departments all over the West are converting police cars into lowriders to strengthen community relations. It's an idea that Sacramento should be jumping up and down about too.
The Idea
Lowriding has been an intrinsic part of Latinx culture since the practice got off the ground in Los Angeles in the 1940s and spread throughout the western U.S. But for decades, lowriders were often harassed by the police, and cruising was banned in many cities, including Sacramento.
In recent years, however, lowriding has been riding high. For example, Sacramento repealed its anti-cruising ordinance in 2022. And just last October, California lifted a statewide ban on lowriding. Moreover, many police departments have started transforming old cop cars into actual lowriders as a way to build a bridge to the Latinx community. And, it turns out, it actually works.
In 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department debuted a completely refurbished 2007 Crown Victoria police car (shown above), which the community had helped convert into a lowrider souped up with hydraulics and pinstriping. It even blares “Bad Boys” (the theme for the TV series Cops) and the 1975 Grammy Hall of Fame song “Low Rider” by War on its loudspeaker as it rolls through town.
“This car shows that we’re not going to target you based on what car you’re driving,” says Danielle Silva, the Albuquerque Police Department’s community engagement manager who oversees its lowrider program. “It has also opened up a lot of conversations that I think wouldn’t have happened before between community members and officers.”
Silva says the vehicle—an actual police car with lights and sirens, though intended purely for civic outreach—not only takes part in lowriding cruises, but also makes appearances at other events like car shows and church functions around the region. “We also take it to high schools, middle schools and elementary schools and let the kids check it out,” says Silva. “It’s an easy conversation starter because it looks cool—the kids will usually walk up and start asking questions. And they love to watch it bounce.”
Today, there are enough police lowriders around to start their own car club, with similar vehicles serving the same purpose in cities like Denver, Dallas, San Diego, Oakland and Stockton. (The Stockton Police displays its car at events like the annual asparagus festival there.)
When the Santa Rosa Police Department unveiled its lowrider in 2022, then-police chief Rainer Navarro told the 500-plus attendees: “I see this as an ongoing opportunity to collaborate with the community and build relationships. This lines up with everything we do.”
With Sacramento at the epicenter of California’s recent repeal of its anti-cruising laws, the state capital would be a natural place to jump on the police lowrider bandwagon.
The Players
Sacramento police chief Katherine Lester could certainly spearhead our efforts. But every city has different champions. In Albuquerque, for instance, city councilor Klarissa Peña led the charge. Here, Sacramento council member Katie Valenzuela worked with the Sacramento Lowrider Commission to end our city’s anti-cruising ordinance. Maybe this could be their next joint project.
The Bottom Line
Most police lowriders are converted from older patrol cars with the assistance of local lowrider artists and mechanics. In Albuquerque, the police department spent $30,000 from its neighborhood policing budget, and received an additional $60,000 in donated materials and labor. The San Diego PD’s lowrider cost about $50,000, which was collected from donations. And Santa Rosa used $9,660 from its Office of Community Engagement for its converted police vehicle. Regardless of the amount, it’s a small price to pay for a safer city and a better relationship between the police and the citizens they serve. So Sacramento—let’s flip the switch and get hopping.
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