New Haven Independent

The project was spearheaded by Officer Joe Avery, pictured with slogan scribe Chris Arnott, managing editor of the New Haven Advocate.

“The chief asked me to come up with a bumper sticker. I threw around some ideas but then I thought, ‘Let’s make this fun and get the public involved,’” Avery said.

The contest and Tip-Line are part of a larger effort to stop gun violence in New Haven. The contest was completed a couple of months ago, but there was too much going on in the city (gun violence, armed patrols, etc.), said Avery.

“This went to the back burner.”

Twenty-five designs were received and posted on the third floor of the police station. All officers and passers-by had the opportunity to pick the one they like, fill out a secret ballot and drop it in a box. Over 200 votes were cast.

The design was entered by the whole staff of the Advocate. Arnott wrote the text and Production Manager Matthew Ford did the design. Arnott rolled up with a stroller for two and said a few words before affixing a sticker on the bumper of a newly washed police cruiser, with the help of his daughters, pictured.

“It turns out the police department has the same sense of humor that I have,” said Arnott, in reference to the double meaning of the sticker. With the sticker on a police car, it’s also implying that the police officer would rather not be shooting a gun.

“That’s the way I read it,” said Avery.

“This is a genuine thing,” said Arnott. “Not a snarky Advocate thing.”

The bumper stickers will go on approximately 60 police cars, the ones that patrol regularly. They are also available to the public at 1 Union Avenue and at the substations. The Tip-Line number is 203-946-8244.