Do-Nothing Democrats Force Cops Out of Cars, Reducing America's Safety
- From: Patriot Games <Patriot@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 07:17:43 -0400
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,357407,00.html
Rising Gas Prices Forcing Some Cops Out of Cars, Onto Feet
Friday, May 23, 2008
NEWBERRY, S.C. ? With gasoline climbing toward $4 a gallon, police
officers around the country are losing the right to take their patrol
cars home and are being forced to double up in cruisers and walk the
beat more.
The gas crunch could also put an end to the time-honored way cops
leave their engines running when they get out to investigate
something.
Some police chiefs think the moneysaving measures are not all bad, and
might actually help them do a better job. But they worry about the
loss of take-home cars, saying the sight of a cruiser parked in a
driveway or out in front of a home deters neighborhood crime.
In Newberry, population 10,000, Chief Jackie Swindler is telling his
officers to turn off the ignition whenever they are stopped for more
than a minute or so, and to get out and walk around more.
"It's not a rolling office that you stay in all day," Swindler said.
"You still need to get out and interact with the public."
Jonathan Taylor, a rookie officer in Newberry, said walking the beat
in the region's oppressive summer heat may be a drag, but he added:
"We're police officers. It's not supposed to be a comfortable job. If
getting out and walking helps me do the best job I can, I'm all for
it."
In Grainger County, Tenn., Sheriff James Harville planned for gas
prices of $2.22 a gallon when he drew up his budget last year. He has
since redrawn the patrol map for the two officers who work each shift,
splitting his county in half. He now puts one officer in each half and
makes them responsible for all calls in their area.
"That way, unless it's just a life-threatening call, I don't have
officers just crisscrossing the county," said Harville, who has asked
local officials for an extra $30,000 to keep patrol cars running in
the county of 22,000 in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
When shifts overlap in Apple Valley, Minn., officers pair up and
supervisors send those cruisers to domestic disputes, burglar alarms
and other calls that would usually require two officers to respond
separately, said Capt. Jon Rechtzigel. Officers also have been asked
to turn off their engines whenever possible.
"Years ago, you used to pull in a back lot to investigate something
and keep your car running," Rechtzigel said. "You just can't afford to
do that anymore."
In the South Carolina town of Elgin, Police Chief Harold Brown delayed
hiring a sixth officer so he could use the money for gas. "I guess you
could say rising gas prices have cost me a man," said Brown, who found
enough money in his budget to bring the new officer on board a few
weeks ago.
The Georgia State Patrol has asked troopers to reduce the amount of
time spent driving by 25 percent.
In Evansville, Ind., some officers will lose their take-home cars and
others will have to pay more for the privilege. Starting Friday, those
living within city limits will pay $25 every two weeks and those in
the surrounding county will pay $35. Both groups previously paid $10.
Eleven workers living outside the county will no longer get take-home
police cars.
Proposals to restrict the use of take-home police cars also are on the
table in Camden, Del., Avon Park, Fla., and Hagerstown, Md.
"I don't think we should be taking our city cruisers outside of our
city," said Hagerstown City Councilwoman Kelly S. Cromer. "With the
price of gas right now, I just really think that's a waste."
In Allegany County, Md., Sheriff David Goad told elected officials
seeking to limit his department's use of take-home vehicles that "it's
a proven fact" that the sight of a patrol car on the road or in a
driveway deters crime.
As the fiscal year comes to an end, chiefs and sheriffs are trying to
predict how high gas prices will go and craft budgets that won't be
blown.
"It's a shot in the dark," Swindler said. "You just have to take your
best guess."
Swindler, who joined the force as a patrol officer in 1975 ? back when
"only people with rank had a car" ? said the return to old-fashioned
police work could be a good thing in some ways, by bringing officers
in closer contact with the public.
The chief is doing his part by riding the department's Segway electric
scooter during festivals and other events, and is looking to buy
smaller, lighter cruisers.
Newberry officers don't seem to mind. Sgt. Andy Rowe said he has heard
no complaints from the officers he oversees as a shift supervisor and
doesn't mind walking a little himself.
"I enjoy getting out and interacting with everybody," Rowe said.
.
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