Wyoming Sheriff's 'Badass' Western Cruiser Aims to Recruit Deputies

LARAMIE COUNTY, WY – The Laramie County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) has introduced a uniquely styled Dodge Durango SUV, adorned with dynamic Western artwork, with the primary goal of attracting potential recruits. Unveiled recently, the vehicle features a mural-style design depicting a cowboy on horseback charging forward, a concept Sheriff Brian Kozak envisioned to make the patrol car stand out.

Sheriff Kozak commissioned local Cheyenne mural artist Jordan Dean to create the distinctive look for the department's new recruiting vehicle. Dean, known for his large-scale public art, including murals on the city's water towers, translated Kozak's vision of a "high plains drifter, Clint Eastwood kind of cowboy hard charge-in graphic" onto the SUV. The result is a rolling piece of art intended to capture attention and initiate conversations about law enforcement careers.

"It looks pretty badass," Sheriff Kozak stated about the new cruiser. He explained that the primary motivation behind the eye-catching design was to create a vehicle that would prompt questions and curiosity from the public. "The whole motivation was for people to ask, 'Hey, what's with this car?'" he said. The aim is for deputies to use these interactions as opportunities to discuss career paths within the LCSO.

Rolling Billboard for Recruitment Efforts

The cruiser is assigned to Cpl. Heather Wilson of the agency's hiring unit and serves as a mobile advertisement for the department. Beyond its striking exterior, the vehicle is equipped with recruiting tools, including a pull-out television screen for displaying hiring videos during public events. Plans are also in place to install a PlayStation loaded with a pursuit-driving game, allowing visitors, particularly younger ones, to experience a simulated aspect of law enforcement duty.

Artist Jordan Dean shared that his collaboration with the sheriff's office began years prior with interior murals at the Laramie County Detention Center. This project offered him the opportunity to fulfill a long-held aspiration: designing a law enforcement vehicle. Dean's artistic approach focused on conveying action and motion, ensuring the horse and rider composition powerfully filled the vehicle's side panels. "The Western theme just fit, and I love that style," Dean commented.

The initiative comes as the Laramie County Sheriff's Office, like many law enforcement agencies nationwide, faces ongoing recruitment challenges. The department employs approximately 240 individuals and typically experiences a vacancy rate around 10%, meaning 10 to 15 positions are open at any given time. Sheriff Kozak hopes that a vehicle as memorable as this one will help bridge the gap and attract qualified candidates to fill these roles.

The cruiser has already garnered significant attention, not only within Wyoming but also in neighboring states. Cpl. Wilson recently drove the vehicle to a leadership training event in Colorado, where it reportedly impressed law enforcement officers from the Denver area. This positive reception indicates the design's potential effectiveness in generating interest beyond its immediate jurisdiction. "All the Denver law enforcement officers that went to this leadership training just thought it was the best car ever that they've seen," Kozak recounted.

In addition to its recruiting features, the vehicle is equipped with extensive emergency lighting. Novelty features include the ability to play the theme song from the television show "Cops" and the national anthem, adding to its unique character. The Laramie County Sheriff's Office is banking on this blend of Western swagger and modern functionality to make a lasting impression and ultimately bolster its staffing levels.