Since 2002 the Brownwood Police Department has utilized a 1988 Ford Bronco as the School Resource (SRO) Vehicle. The Bronco replaced an out of service police sedan that was being utilized at that time as the SRO Vehicle.
The iconic Bronco was originally seized from a felon and a number of local businesses went to work to transform the Bronco from a criminal’s SUV to a police vehicle. The Bronco received upgrades including a new engine and transmission, a maroon paint job, decals, tires, window tinting and lights and siren.The distinctive maroon and white Bronco with Brownwood ISD coloring including the Brownwood Lion and Brownwood Police Department lettering has been seen all over Brownwood since that time.
The Bronco was used in day-to-day operations and had participated in local parades in the past. In 2003 the Bronco won third place in a (DARE) conference in Corpus Christi with Former Brownwood Police SRO, Scotty Burk accepting the award.
As with all things, changes are inevitable and on Tuesday, January 29th, the vehicle was officially retired from police service.
The retirement of the vehicle marks an end of an era as a decade of former students have only known the Bronco as the school resource vehicle.
The new school resource vehicle will be a leap forward in age and style. A 2010 Dodge Charger with the new Brownwood Police Department logo design will replace the Bronco as the official police vehicle used by the current SRO, Fred Bastardo.
