The first all-electric HERO-wrapped patrol vehicle was recently unveiled on the Boardwalk in front of the Tropicana in Atlantic City thanks to a partnership between the John Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers and the Atlantic City Police Department.
The ACPD’s new Mustang Mach-E is the 21st patrol vehicle from police departments throughout southern New Jersey to be wrapped with the HERO Campaign’s logo and slogan promoting the use of designated drivers to prevent drunk driving.
“We are proud and excited to dedicate the HERO Campaign’s first all-electric patrol car wrapped with our life-saving message, ‘Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.’ It will become a signature member of our growing fleet of 21 HERO patrol cars now serving as rolling billboards to prevent drunk and impaired driving,” Bill Elliott, chairman of the HERO Campaign, said.
The HERO Campaign was created in memory of his and his wife, Muriel’s, son, Navy Ensign John Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver near Woodstown in July 2000, two months after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was named the “Outstanding HERO” of his graduating class. He was driving home from Maryland for his mother’s birthday celebration at the time of his death. The Elliotts and friends established the HERO Campaign to prevent drunk driving by promoting the use of safe and responsible designated drivers.
“The Atlantic City Police Department is honored to partner with the HERO Campaign on the patrol car wrap program,” ACPD Chief James Sarkos said. “We were one of the first police departments to participate several years ago, so we know how valuable it is to use our HERO patrol vehicle to remind Atlantic City’s residents and visitors to have a designated driver when consuming alcoholic beverages. We’re proud that this Mustang Mach-E is the first all-electric vehicle in Atlantic City, and also the first in the HERO fleet.”
Atlantic City joins a fleet of HERO-wrapped patrol/emergency vehicles from municipalities throughout southern New Jersey. Egg Harbor Township, Evesham Township, Galloway, Linwood, Little Egg Harbor Township, Lower Township, Margate, Middle Township, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Longport, Sea Girt, Sea Isle City, Pleasantville, Ventnor and Vineland also have HERO cruisers currently in service. Another will soon be unveiled in Somers Point. In addition to Egg Harbor Township’s HERO-wrapped police vehicle, the township’s EMS Humvee is also on the road with a HERO wrap. The HERO Campaign has also recently completed a wrap of a police highway safety trailer for the Piscataway police department.
Since its inception in 2000, the HERO Campaign has grown into a major movement to prevent impaired driving that has received national recognition and awards. It has also helped to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and incidents, including a 20% reduction in DUI fatalities in New Jersey and other states over the past decade.
