BOSTON (AP) – The Littleton Police Department is selling advertising space on its newest police cruiser as a way to offset the price of maintenance on its other cars.

The 2006 Ford Crown Victoria took to the streets last Wednesday with advertisements for a local supermarket displayed on its trunk and fenders, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

The ads, which cost $12,000 a year for three years, will cover the full cost of leasing the car for the police department.

Police Chief John M. Kelly, who proposed the idea, said he checked with the offices of the attorney general and the inspector general to make sure there would be no legal problems.

Although both government offices told Kelly there were no restrictions, his actions have raised eyebrows in Massachusetts and beyond.

“It doesn’t seem to be the professional standard that we should be projecting,” said Shrewsbury Chief A. Wayne Sampson, president of the State Association of Police Chiefs.

Gary Ruskin, executive director of Commercial Alert, an advocacy group based in Oregon, said “Putting ads on police cars literally says our law is for sale.” Ruskin worries that advertising on police cars will foster disrespect for law enforcement.

Two other businesses are considering buying advertising space from the Littleton Police Department.

AP-ES-02-14-06 0816EST