Timberlake Tiger Tahoe roars with school pride
Courtesy photo Students, school officials and Spirit Lake Police Department personnel gather with the school resource officer’s vehicle Tuesday at Timberlake High School as the vehicle’s glossy new car wrap is unveiled. From left, back row: SRO Jake Salisbury, SLPD Chief Dennis Sanchez, CW Wraps CEO Sam Carlino, Timberlake Junior High Principal Chris McDougall (in beanie), Timberlake Student Body President Travis Plunkett and Timberlake High School Principal Ryne Eberlin. Front row, from left: Isis Rodriguez, Gabby Ranney, Clair Neelon, Sami Wilfong, Bernie Carhart, Ragan West, Tann…
The school resource officer vehicle in Spirit Lake is now cruising in style and beaming with school pride thanks to a new car wrap thet shows off the Timberlake High School logo and mighty tiger mascot. (Courtesy photo)
The Spirit Lake Police school resource officer vehicle, a 2004 Chevy Tahoe driven by Officer Jake Salisbury, now boasts a glossy new car wrap that showcases the Timberlake school mascot and brings a sense of pride to the school and its community. The wrap, donated by CW Wraps in Post Falls, was unveiled at the school Tuesday morning. (Courtesy photo)
SPIRIT LAKE — No longer will Spirit Lake's students see an ordinary ol' police vehicle when school resource Officer Jake Salisbury rolls up in his cruiser.
The formerly black and white 2004 Chevy Tahoe now roars with school spirit after being wrapped in a sleek design that shows off Timberlake's mighty mascot.
"It looks pretty rad," said Timberlake student body President Travis Plunkett. "That tiger is pretty fierce."
Officials from Spirit Lake Police Department and the Spirit Lake school community gathered at Timberlake High School on Tuesday's snowy morning to unveil the renovated and recently dedicated patrol vehicle.
Students from Timberlake's leadership class were also present to accept the vehicle and admire its glossy new look. Sophomore Pierse Sheetz commented that it will be cool to have the car representing Timberlake for games. He compared it to the school spirit cars of other resource officers in the area.
"It's beast," he said.
Travis, a senior, said he believes seeing the school's name and mascot on the cruiser will bring everyone closer together.
"Having that logo on there will show kids that the police officers are on the same team," he said. "They’re here for the school. They're not some people to be afraid of."
Salisbury said the vehicle is an important tool Spirit Lake Police can use to foster positive relationships with their community and students.
"Part of the meaning in this vehicle is not only for us to be able to demonstrate pride in our students and schools, but to help them gain a sense of pride and ownership in THEIR department as well," he said. "We are here for them — that’s our job — and this car helps us show it."
Salisbury said he's seen a lot of other agencies' SRO vehicles and admitted he is a bit biased, "but ours is now by far the most awesome."
"It’s an honor to get to be the guy who gets to drive it around not only for what it represents, but, I mean, how cool is it?"
The car wrap, valued around $5,000, was a gift from CW Wraps in Post Falls. Sam Carlino owns CW Wraps.
"We are so excited to be here to not only unveil our newly re-designed SRO car with our school partners for the first time, but also to thank Sam and his team from CW Wraps as best as we know how for their generous contribution to our department, our schools and our community," said Spirit Lake Police Chief Dennis Sanchez. "This vehicle is now a visual representation of the depth of our pride in Spirit Lake schools and is a constant reminder to anyone who sees it of just how important our students are."
As well as receiving a makeover, other local businesses donated labor hours, tires and funds to get the Tahoe feeling as good as it looks. Sanchez said that because the department operates on a limited budget, it probably wouldn't have been able to accomplish the project without the help of these businesses.
"We had a vision with where we wanted our SRO program to go and couldn’t be more thankful for everyone’s generosity who recognized this goal and stepped up to help make that dream a reality for Spirit Lake," Sanchez said.