Come this summer, you may notice unusual-looking police patrol vehicles on the Cross Kirkland Corridor. New to the Kirkland Police Department’s fleet are two 100 percent electric Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) equipped with sirens, lights and speakers.

The only thing missing are official names for the vehicles. The city is turning to fifth grade classes within the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) for help. Fifth grade classes (including fourth and fifth grade combination classes) are encouraged to submit suggested names for the UTVs by May 1. Participating LWSD elementary schools to date include: Peter Kirk, A.G. Bell, Ben Franklin, David Thoreau, Carl Sandburg and Juanita. A community online vote will occur from May 2-15 with the winning name to be announced at a future City Council meeting and in city materials. Contest details can be found at www.kirklandwa.gov/crosskirklandcorridor.

“Many students walk the Cross Kirkland Corridor to reach their schools and we want them to know there will be officers patrolling the Interim Trail,” said Captain Mike Ursino. “Officers will be visiting participating schools as a way to display the UTVs and interact with students.” On April 21, KPD Neighborhood Resource Officer Audra Weber will be at Sanburg, Thoreau and Juanita schools and on April 23, she will be at Franklin, Kirk and Bell schools.

Suggested names should be directly associated with the Cross Kirkland Corridor, the city of Kirkland, Kirkland Police Department or Washington State. For specific questions about the contest, contact Patricia Ball, KPD, at 425-587-3408 or pball@kirklandwa.gov.