Raza Report

Latinos in Avondale want to convert cop car

Police across the nation are turning to lowriders in hopes the candy colored paint jobs and road bouncing hydraulic systems will break the ice with teenagers.

For years, the low-slung cars were associated with gangbangers and drug dealers. Now, police in Oakland, Dallas, Kansas City and at least six other cities are using these specially outfitted cars to reach out to their communities.

A group of lowrider lovers in Avondale wants to create the first lowrider police car in Arizona.

But lowrider aficionados are driving into resistance from Avondale's top cop. Avondale police Chief Floyed Lowe said that his department can't afford to give up one of its police cars and that a lowrider police car would send a poor message to the community.

"We look at our police cars as trying to represent a certain professional image,: Lowe said. "It's really hard for me to see a lowrider police car as portraying the kind of professional image we expect."

Lowrider supporters in Avondale are offering to donate all the equipment and labor needed to convert a police car into a lowrider, which are usually equipped with window-rattling stereos, miniature wheels and elaborate hydraulic systems that make the car bounce and hop like a spring-loaded toy.

The Police Department's image in the community will be improved, not hurt, they contend. To them, lowriders are attention grabbers that can bridge the gap between police officers and teens, open the door to educational programs and police recruitment, and celebrate an aspect of Latino culture.

Avondale residents have been pushing city officials for the past year to create a lowrider police car program. They say they ahd the support of former Mayor Tom Morales until he was voted out of office.  They plan to pitch the idea soon with the new mayor, Ron Drake.

Because Avondale has a large Latino population, a lowrider police car would be especially popular, Tolleson Justice of the Peace Joe "Pep" Guzman said.  Latinos created the lowrider phenomenon in the 1940s, and the hobby remains popular in working class communities like Avondale, Guzman said.

"Traditionally the lowrider movement has attracted mostly Hispanics and African-Americans, but it has broadened to the Anglo population," Guzman said.  "It's a good way of taking a popular urban hobby and connecting with our kids."

Red Dog Productions will keep you posted on whether the plan to create the first Arizona Cop Lowrider is successful.

Until then,

Al rato Gente.

RED DOG