Bowling Green resident Sarah Jane Zink has lent her 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport to the WKU Police Department to appear at community events.

Zink, a local resident and owner of the car, agreed to restyle the vehicle on Aug. 23 with the WKUPD decals and stripes as a contribution to the police department.

Zink and WKUPD Chief Mitchell Walker devised the collaboration, having known each other since September 2020. 

“I reached out to Sarah because I knew she had a connection with Corvette and to see if there was something we could do with them to promote our police department and WKU,” Walker said.

Walker said WKUPD plans to use the vehicle for WKU football escorts and possibly events for recruiting police officers and students to the university.

After modifying the vehicle with the decals, Zink said she took the restyled Corvette to the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park on Aug. 24 and 25 for a spin on the track. This occurred during the park’s High Performance Driving Event.

The car’s most recent appearance in the Bowling Green area took place on Sept. 7 during the WKU home football game against rival Eastern Kentucky University, according to Walker. 

While the Corvette is not on the track or in official law enforcement usage, the decals must be taped over. According to Walker, it is both illegal and a safety issue for the decals to be visible while not in use by police. 

Zink’s main concern was not her own safety.

“I don’t want anyone to ask for my help and I can’t help them,” Zink said.

Zink said her position as a law enforcement chaplain at the Warren County Sheriff’s Department influenced her relationship with the police.

Zink is the president of Phoenix Rising, which aims to assist youth impacted by sex trafficking, according to the website. She is also a former president of Adopt a Golden Nashville and fosters through the organization.

“I don’t have kids, so this is my way of giving back,” Zink said. 

If those in the WKU community want to see the car, they can expect it at upcoming home football games and potentially at WKUPD recruitment events, according to Walker.

Until then, it will be in Zink’s garage, if not out on the track.

News Reporter Kane Smith can be reached at [email protected].