The Oxford Police Department unveiled two health awareness patrol cars during a special ceremony held Monday, August 17, 2026, at the Oxford Police Department headquarters.

Chief Daniel Phipps officiated as the vehicles dedicated to raising awareness of brain cancer and breast cancer joined the force’s other graphically enhanced vehicles designed to increase awareness of Autism and the recognition of School Police Officers.

These vehicles also have a personal connection to the Oxford Police Department.

The Brain Cancer Awareness vehicle is dedicated to the memory of Adam Willis, husband of Investigator Jaclyn Willis, who courageously battled brain cancer for three years before passing away from the disease in May of this year.

Jaclyn said Phipps mentioned the idea to her at Adam’s memorial service.

“When I asked, she was for it,” Phipps said. “So, I took her with me to Mission Vehicle which does all ourpatrol car striping and Jaclyn designed it. Mission Vehicle did not charge us for the work on this vehicle.”

“This is amazing,” Jaclyn said after driving the vehicle into the headquarters’ parking lot for the first time.“I was really in awe of the idea when the chief mentioned this idea to me. It is such a blessing they would honor him this way.”

Jaclyn said Adam would have thought the new vehicle “very, very cool.”

“I can hear him say, ‘Look! My name’s on it!’” Jaclyn said with a laugh. “He would have thought it was awesome. As far as I know, no one else has one like this. That makes this very special.”

Phipps said that while they were designing one car, the thought crossed his mind that the current Breast Cancer Awareness vehicle’s graphics had become worn and needed an upgrade. It was then he made the decision that there was someone for whom it would be appropriate to do those refreshed graphics in their honor.

The updated Breast Cancer Awareness vehicle now honors the department’s 38-year employee and former chief administrative assistant, Teresa Medina, who courageously battled breast cancer, is now a survivor, and began enjoying a well-deserved retirement earlier this year.

“This is such a blessing,” Medina said. “I am very humbled. It’s a great honor for it to come from this department.”

It is a department very close to Medina’s heart.

She served 11 years as a dispatcher when in 1997, Chief Stanley Merrill asked her to become his administrative assistant – a role she maintained when Chief Bill Partridge took office ten years later before retiring in 2024.

“I thank God first of all that I am still here and still able to fellowship with all these guys,” Medina said. “I started here being their sister, and now I’m more like their grandma,” Medina said. “I love them dearly and think of all of them as family. I’m very touched by this.”