Forty-eight state police agencies are participating in the 2018 Best Looking Cruiser Contest sponsored by the American Association of Troopers. It’s a pinup competition of sorts, with the winner’s photo featured on the cover of the association’s “America’s Best Looking Trooper Cruisers 2019 Wall Calendar” and the agency receiving the “Best Looking Cruiser Award.”
“We think we have a nice-looking vehicle, and we’re fortunate to have them,” said Sgt. Chris Knox of the N.C. Highway Patrol. “It’s a way to showcase our agency and showcase our vehicle.”
Judging from past competitions and the number of Facebook “likes” on the association’s contest page, Knox said Georgia is the toughest competitor. He thinks it’s because people like their orange and blue color combination.
As of 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Georgia led the competition with roughly 11,400 likes, followed by Kentucky with almost 11,000 likes and North Carolina in third with about 8,300 likes. (Poor Utah, those troopers only had 334 votes.) The agency with the most likes — comments are welcome but they don’t count — by 5 p.m. July 25 will be deemed the winner, according to the association’s Facebook page.
“It’s a friendly competition with banter among troopers across the nation,” Knox said.
Association spokeswoman Jaclyn Breeding said Maryland chose not to participate (party poopers) and Hawaii doesn’t have a state police agency.
North Carolina troopers have a special reason for wanting to win this year. Their photo features Pilot Mountain, a nod of honor to Trooper Samuel Newton Bullard. The 24-year-old trooper, who was stationed in Surry County, died while pursuing a driver who went through a checkpoint without stopping.
“We typically pick an iconic image of North Carolina and this year we wanted to honor Trooper Bullard,” Knox said. “Because he was stationed in Surry County, it was a fitting landmark.”
Knox encourages people to like North Carolina’s photo and then share it on their own Facebook pages.
“It’s fun,” Knox said. “People across the state have been drawn to this image. People have really gotten into it.”