The Marylou Lowrider Project

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.