Blaine County Sheriff’s Patrol Car Dives into Idaho’s Submarine Legacy

Wed Nov 12th, 2025

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Oooohrah!

The Blaine County Sheriff’s Department took the wraps off its newly wrapped patrol car this week, revealing a car that honors Idaho’s new Virginia-Class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine and Idaho’s rich history with the U.S. Navy.

The patrol car, dubbed “The Gem of the Fleet”—the name of the new submarine—is the first patrol car in Idaho marking the new submarine, said Richard Colburn, chairman of the USS Idaho SSN 799 Commissioning Committee.

“It’s incredible for the Blaine County Sheriff Department to honor our legacy. This is the first car like this, and I’m hoping it won’t be the last,” added Colburn, a retired U.S. Navy captain.

The patrol car’s dark midnight blue color represents deep ocean water. The hood of the car displays a sonar signal probing the depths of the ocean.

The side of the vehicle features the branding of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, including the majestic mountains surrounding Sun Valley.

A red stripe across the bottom represents blood shed in defense of the nation by the armed services and law enforcement officers. A decal denoting the USS Idaho SSN 799 submarine is on the side, and the back windows pay tribute to the USS Idaho Commissioning Committee.

The gas cap cover showcases the state of Idaho and the year 1890—when Idaho was granted statehood. A sonar signal is sent out from a custom USS Idaho license plate on the rear of the vehicle, and the submarine broaches the surface of the water on the bottom of the tailgate.

Blaine County Sheriff Morgan Ballis, who served in the U.S. Marines, said the idea came about when local veteran Bill Potter visited to acquaint him with the submarine that will be commissioned in early 2026.

“As the meeting came to a close, I said, ‘What can we do to help you?’ ” Ballis recounted. “When they said they wanted to spread awareness, I blurted out, ‘Why don’t we wrap a patrol car?!’ ”

More than 60 men and women turned out for the unveiling outside of the Sheriff’s Office in Hailey, shielding themselves from the sun on an unseasonably warm day that saw temperatures climb into the upper 50s....

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