The Marylou Lowrider Project

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Introducing Santa Rosa's Own Lowrider Patrol Car: The Marylou

California was home to some of the first lowriders ever created, and we're proud to become part of the "low and slow" community. The City of Santa Rosa’s Office of Community Engagement, the Sonoma County Lowrider Council, and the Santa Rosa Police Department are excited to announce the completion of the Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car. The Project is community-driven; the idea came from the Sonoma County Lowrider Council and the car build was completed various car clubs and solo riders from the Sonoma County lowrider community, including Latin Rollers Car Club Santa Rosa, Ranflitas Car Club North Bay; Viejitos Car Club North Bay, 1 Firme Car Club, Impalas North Bay Car Club, Good Times Car Club, and Paul Marquez, solo rider.

Other nearby communities have been encouraged by the conversations that have taken place around their lowrider patrol cars. Law enforcement officers and the communities they serve can connect in a new way as they talk hydraulics, artwork, and rims. Santa Rosa will be introducing The Marylou into our neighborhoods and communities with the hope that we can start to build new bridges here. Programming will include workshops and community events featuring lowriding as a form of healing from generational trauma, as well as a social cohesion strategy and a way to connect with our Indigenous roots.

We know this is just ONE part of the work that needs to be done to repair the relationship between police and our BIPOC community. We hope you'll be part of this project and that you'll tell us what else can be done to improve outreach efforts across the city. Use the tools below to share your ideas.

Project Details

In August 2020, the Chief of Police and staff from the Office of Community Engagement were approached by members of the Sonoma County Lowrider Council with a request to allow the Lowrider Council to build SRPD their very own lowrider patrol car. The Marylou is a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, a retired sergeant vehicle. The lowrider patrol car will be used for engagement and outreach purposes only and will not be for active patrol duties.

The lowrider is named after a fallen detective, Marylou Armer, with permission from her family. Marylou was the first California peace officer to pass away in the line of duty from COVID-19 in 2020.

Project Budget

The cost of transforming the patrol car into a lowrider was approximately $9,660 and was provided by the Office of Community Engagement, with the exception of the car stereo and paint. Enterprise Rental Cars generously donated a stereo to the project and bodywork and paint was donated by The Body Shop of Santa Rosa. SRPD has graciously donated the car to the Office of Community Engagement.

Introducing Santa Rosa's Own Lowrider Patrol Car: The Marylou

California was home to some of the first lowriders ever created, and we're proud to become part of the "low and slow" community. The City of Santa Rosa’s Office of Community Engagement, the Sonoma County Lowrider Council, and the Santa Rosa Police Department are excited to announce the completion of the Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car. The Project is community-driven; the idea came from the Sonoma County Lowrider Council and the car build was completed various car clubs and solo riders from the Sonoma County lowrider community, including Latin Rollers Car Club Santa Rosa, Ranflitas Car Club North Bay; Viejitos Car Club North Bay, 1 Firme Car Club, Impalas North Bay Car Club, Good Times Car Club, and Paul Marquez, solo rider.

Other nearby communities have been encouraged by the conversations that have taken place around their lowrider patrol cars. Law enforcement officers and the communities they serve can connect in a new way as they talk hydraulics, artwork, and rims. Santa Rosa will be introducing The Marylou into our neighborhoods and communities with the hope that we can start to build new bridges here. Programming will include workshops and community events featuring lowriding as a form of healing from generational trauma, as well as a social cohesion strategy and a way to connect with our Indigenous roots.

We know this is just ONE part of the work that needs to be done to repair the relationship between police and our BIPOC community. We hope you'll be part of this project and that you'll tell us what else can be done to improve outreach efforts across the city. Use the tools below to share your ideas.

Project Details

In August 2020, the Chief of Police and staff from the Office of Community Engagement were approached by members of the Sonoma County Lowrider Council with a request to allow the Lowrider Council to build SRPD their very own lowrider patrol car. The Marylou is a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, a retired sergeant vehicle. The lowrider patrol car will be used for engagement and outreach purposes only and will not be for active patrol duties.

The lowrider is named after a fallen detective, Marylou Armer, with permission from her family. Marylou was the first California peace officer to pass away in the line of duty from COVID-19 in 2020.

Project Budget

The cost of transforming the patrol car into a lowrider was approximately $9,660 and was provided by the Office of Community Engagement, with the exception of the car stereo and paint. Enterprise Rental Cars generously donated a stereo to the project and bodywork and paint was donated by The Body Shop of Santa Rosa. SRPD has graciously donated the car to the Office of Community Engagement.

  • The Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car Documentary

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    Want to learn more about how this project came to be? Here is a preview of The Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car Project documentary. The full length documentary is coming this Summer 2022!


  • Join Us for the Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car Reveal Event and Ceremony!

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    The City of Santa Rosa’s Office of Community Engagement, the Sonoma County Lowrider Council, and the Santa Rosa Police Department are excited to announce the completion of the Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car. Please join us as we unveil the car to the community and celebrate this historic project!

    WHEN: Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 4-8pm
    WHERE: Santa Rosa City Hall Parking Lot, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue

    The event will feature a Pomo community blessing, performances from the Luther Burbank Center’s Youth Mariachi Group and Ballet-Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl, as well as a viewing of the Marylou Lowrider Patrol Car project documentary trailer. The ceremony will include speakers from the Sonoma County Lowrider Council as well as local and state elected officials. There will also be an opportunity after the ceremony for photos with The Marylou!


  • Finishing Touches Underway!

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    We are excited to announce that the car build is almost complete! The stereo installation is in process along with the interior upgrade and the final color sanding (polish). These finishing touches are anticipated to be complete by Tuesday, February 22. The final piece to complete the build is wrapping the car with the SRPD logo and reinstalling the light bar on the top of the vehicle.

    We can't wait to share the final build with the community!

  • Artwork Underway

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    Artwork, including pinstriping and a mural, are underway on the Marylou! Local artist and lowrider enthusiast, Paul Marquez, is placing pinstripe art on the hood of the car while Gustavo Mendoza, Community Outreach Specialist with the Office of Community Engagement is airbrushing the mural which is being placed on the trunk of the car. The artwork will take several weeks to complete and then the car will be sent for final paint touch-ups and a clear coat.

    We can't wait to see the finished artwork!

  • Body Work and Paint Update

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    The first step in updating the body work and paint on the Marylou have been completed. The work was done by Manny Aguilar and his team at The Body Shop, along with members of the Ranflitas North Bay Car Club. After completing the paint and sanding it out, the car is now off to the pinstripe artists who will add artwork to the exterior of the car. The car will then return to The Body Shop for touch-ups and a clear coat.

    A huge thank you to Manny Aguilar, his staff and the Ranflitas for their contribution! We can't wait to see the finished product.

  • Project Update: Hydraulics Installation

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    We are excited to report that the hydraulics have been installed in The Marylou. The hydraulics system was installed by Jose "Gordo" Carreon and other members of the Latin Rollers Car Club. The car is now off to The Body Shop, where members of the North Bay Ranflitas Car Club will conduct the body work and provide The Marylou with a new coat of paint.

    The lowrider is on track to be complete by early to mid-November. This date is an estimate and subject to change based on the project build. Check back soon for more updates!


Page last updated: 29 Mar 2022, 12:49 PM