By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

CHINA GROVE — Police officers will soon be sporting new patches on their uniforms, and police cars are in for a gradual re-do.

“We’ve modernized it a little,” said Chief Hodge Coffield, referring to the patch.

No one is quite sure how long it’s been since the patch was last redesigned. “It’s been around for a number of years. A lot of the guys didn’t like the colors,” Coffield said.

The new patch is triangular-shaped with the Chinaberry tree for which the town is named featured in the center.

Coffield designed the new patch with the assistance of Miller Davis Studios of Salisbury. A Pennsylvania company — American Patch and Emblem — produced the finished product that will be sewn on the uniforms.

The town’s police cars will also get a new look, dropping the gold-and-green color scheme for the markings.

The new look will feature a blue stripe with white lettering.

Coffield said the change on the cars will come gradually as cars are replaced.

The town recently purchased two new Chevrolet Impalas, which are currently being equipped with police equipment.

Those cars will have the new markings when they go in service.

“We wanted a more modern image,” Coffield said, referring to the patch and car markings.