We think the Council needs to look at all MANDATED services and begin cutting those that are not required by law or ordinance. Our city continues to throw our hard earned tax dollars towards perks for city police officers; yet the infrastructure is falling apart.
Yet with all the tough issues facing our council and taxpayers, police officers still find time to climb atop their respective soapboxes and start flailing away at the three New Albany City Council members scrutinize use of city vehicles!
Source: New Albany Tribune~June 26, 2007
End of story? not so fast...
Back in August 18, 2004 Councilman Larry Kochert said the council will discuss the take home car policy and the city can save money in that area. "The whole thing needs to be looked at," Kochert stated. "We've got to look at cost-cutting."
City Councilman Jack Messer, who is also a NAPD officer, said he is not against the take-home program, but agrees with Kochert that those who live outside the city should not take the cars home.
Source: New Albany Tribune~August 18, 2004
Freedom of Speech see's 3 problems here:
* Council members want Police Officers to pay more.
History: The original take-home car policy-which has been in effect for more than 20 years-has always mandated that each officer living more than five miles outside the city limits be required to put 20 gallons of gas in his or her police cruiser a month, and those living within five miles of the city limits are required to put in 10 gallons per month. Officers living inside the city are not required to pay for gas for their cruisers, even if they drive the car while off-duty.
* Our Police Chief loosened take-home car policy this week, as stated by Capt. Todd Bailey:
The new policy-which is effective immediately-permits officers who live outside the city to drive into New Albany and use the car for personal purposes-such as running errands, seeing a movie or even for a part-time job. without contributing any more gas money than already required.
Source: New Albany Tribune: June 29, 2007
* Taxpayers want our Police Department to comply with state law:
City owned vehicles were furnished to 10 employees to be used for City business and to drive to and from work. The vehicles used were not considered "qualified non-personal use vehicles" as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. The use of these vehicles to commute to and from work is considered personal use and is a taxable fringe benefit. No records were maintained by any of the employees of the personal mileage driven and the taxable fringe benefit was not reported on their W-2.
Source: Indiana State Board Of Accounts
Whenever an item or other asset owned by the political subdivision (city) is entrusted to an officer or employee, to be used at times outside the normal work time for business purposes, such as vehicles, a log should be maintained which clearly shows the business use.
Source: Accounting and Uniform Compliance Guidelines Manual for Cities and Towns, Chapter 7.
"You officers took an oath to enforce the laws but instead you break the laws."
Source: Indiana State Board of Accounts
We have watched with interest this discussion about NAPD take home cars for over 2 1/2 years. It is time our council steps up to the plate and imposes fees on those officers who use the take-home cars while off-duty. We are sick and tired of the comments: The city has been doing this for 30 years, and now 20 years!
Could this be why our city is in the mess were in?
Nothing upsets citizens more than someone driving a police car with their family in it. But for taxpayers to pay their gas bill, is wrong. We understand our officers put their lives on the line every day.
Freedom of Speech would like to know why 3 police cars continue to be parked half the night down by the K&I Bridge? Can't you guys afford a hotel room?
And if anyone thinks a police car in the vicinity of where someone is about to commit a crime deters them, you are crazy. We know that's used as an argument for them to drive their police cars home, but that theory doesn't hold water either.
However if you take home your handheld radio, you could radio an uniformed officer on duty to make an arrest instead of putting officers, friends and family in danger.
Chief Harl can not convince us, there is no benefit to city taxpayers, and the cost to the taxpayers is far less defensible, when the vehicles are driven outside city limits. One must ask if it is fair for city taxpayers to pay to have police cars commute daily to and from Harrison County, Clark County, and Washington County. The NAPD has about 65 officers, and about 28 actually live in the city limits!
Freedom of Speech also has a problem with officers using their patrol cars for off duty jobs that they are paid for, but where the city is not compensated. The city would, however, be responsible if something happened to a take-home car.
You police officers say, there is no place to park your fleet of police cars. Well for our argument the solution is we have an half empty parking garage that can handle this very issue.
So unload your gear, because it's time you either park them cars or pay for your own damn gas!
Capt. Bailey you make $44,841.26 a year, can't you afford to buy your own gas?
Source: 2006 payroll
Your department takes 37% of our city budget, and to use the death of Officer Denzinger as an excuse...shame on you!
"Accountability breeds response-ability"
~Stephen R. Covey
