Even more exciting than there being less than six weeks left of school is the naming contest for the Kirkland Police Department’s two new Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs). Several Lake Washington School District elementary schools have submitted names that are now open for a community vote through Friday, May 22. The two names that receive the highest online votes will be announced at the June 2 Kirkland City Council meeting. To cast your vote, go to http://www.research.net/r/KPDNameUTVs.

The participating schools – A.G. Bell, Carl Sandburg, Henry David Thoreau, Benjamin Franklin, Juanita, Peter Kirk, and Discovery Community School – have suggested the following names:

· 12th Van

· Deputy on Wheels

· Dirt Buster

· E.P.I.C. (Environmental Police Investigation Car)

· Forest Rover

· Green Legion of Boom

· Green Machine

· Guardian of Kirkland

· K.A.R. (Kirkland Awesome Radar)

· Kirkland Cruiser

· Kirkland Starfighter

· Kirkland Storm 1

· Kirkland Storm 2

· K.P.A.T. (Kirkland Police All Terrain Car)

· K.P.P. (Kirkland Police Protection)

· Lean Green Patrol Machine

· Park Protector

· Prime Patroller

· Quad Stopper

· Rocky Roadster

· Salmon Berry

· The Seeker

Recently, students from participating schools got a first-hand look at the UTVs and talked with KPD officers about how they will be used to patrol the Cross Kirkland Corridor. A special presentation will be held at the June 2 Kirkland City Council meeting to congratulate the school(s) whose names received the highest number of votes (top two vote-getters). The meeting will be held at Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Avenue, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.