As a public policy question, this very expensive folly of allowing all 800+ of our sworn LEO's to take-home their assigned police cars, badly needs re-evaluation.
Begun under the reign of former Mayor Silly Susan Savage, to ingratiate herself to the TPD Union in order to win their support for her re-election, her policy allowed EVERY TPD person to take their assigned police car home within the City Limits of Tulsa.
This wasteful, bone-headed policy was later expanded under Mayor Bill MisFortunate.
Mayor MisFortunate expanded the take-home policy to allow our LEO's to drive their assigned vehicles home within TWENTY-FIVE miles of Tulsa, i.e. 41st and Yale.
And, also while moonlighting at second jobs. How GENEROUS with our hard-earned tax dollars.
Again, to ingratiate himself to his very own Praetorian Guard for their expected re-election endorsement.
TPD endorsed Kathy Taylor, instead. Sorry.
With the corrosive effects of higher energy prices on our city operating budget, WHEN will the City Administration and City Council GROUND our free-loading, ruinously expensive, TPD auto take-home policy?
In today's Lorton's World, they provide coverage in their article "Gas Prices Pinch Police", referring to nearby city and county law enforcement organizations coping strategies with higher fuel prices.
Curiously, Tulsa Police department was NOT cited in the story.....
Anyone wonder why?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080719_11_A1_hPARKT284198
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
As a public policy question, this very expensive folly of allowing all 800+ of our sworn LEO's to take-home their assigned police cars, badly needs re-evaluation.
Begun under the reign of former Mayor Silly Susan Savage, to ingratiate herself to the TPD Union in order to win their support for her re-election, her policy allowed EVERY TPD person to take their assigned police car home within the City Limits of Tulsa.
This wasteful, bone-headed policy was later expanded under Mayor Bill MisFortunate.
Mayor MisFortunate expanded the take-home policy to allow our LEO's to drive their assigned vehicles home within TWENTY-FIVE miles of Tulsa, i.e. 41st and Yale.
And, also while moonlighting at second jobs. How GENEROUS with our hard-earned tax dollars.
Again, to ingratiate himself to his very own Praetorian Guard for their expected re-election endorsement.
TPD endorsed Kathy Taylor, instead. Sorry.
With the corrosive effects of higher energy prices on our city operating budget, WHEN will the City Administration and City Council GROUND our free-loading, ruinously expensive, TPD auto take-home policy?
In today's Lorton's World, they provide coverage in their article "Gas Prices Pinch Police", referring to nearby city and county law enforcement organizations coping strategies with higher fuel prices.
Curiously, Tulsa Police department was NOT cited in the story.....
Anyone wonder why?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080719_11_A1_hPARKT284198
You make this so easy.
If you're going to lament having to read the 'Whirled' and spout off about Tulsa Police, at least search the site regarding the policy change they recently made regarding this.
Just...wow.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080626_61_A12_hEDITO146813
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
As a public policy question, this very expensive folly of allowing all 800+ of our sworn LEO's to take-home their assigned police cars, badly needs re-evaluation.
Begun under the reign of former Mayor Silly Susan Savage, to ingratiate herself to the TPD Union in order to win their support for her re-election, her policy allowed EVERY TPD person to take their assigned police car home within the City Limits of Tulsa.
This wasteful, bone-headed policy was later expanded under Mayor Bill MisFortunate.
Mayor MisFortunate expanded the take-home policy to allow our LEO's to drive their assigned vehicles home within TWENTY-FIVE miles of Tulsa, i.e. 41st and Yale.
And, also while moonlighting at second jobs. How GENEROUS with our hard-earned tax dollars.
Again, to ingratiate himself to his very own Praetorian Guard for their expected re-election endorsement.
TPD endorsed Kathy Taylor, instead. Sorry.
With the corrosive effects of higher energy prices on our city operating budget, WHEN will the City Administration and City Council GROUND our free-loading, ruinously expensive, TPD auto take-home policy?
In today's Lorton's World, they provide coverage in their article "Gas Prices Pinch Police", referring to nearby city and county law enforcement organizations coping strategies with higher fuel prices.
Curiously, Tulsa Police department was NOT cited in the story.....
Anyone wonder why?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080719_11_A1_hPARKT284198
You make this so easy.
If you're going to lament having to read the 'Whirled' and spout off about Tulsa Police, at least search the site regarding the policy change they recently made regarding this.
Just...wow.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080626_61_A12_hEDITO146813
Not having the stomach to regularly read the Lorton's World Editorial pages, I missed this editorial.
THANK YOU for pointing out the TPD take-home car policy change, effective four days ago.
That's a step in the right direction.
Funny that there wasn't a corollary news article to accompany their editorial.
Frequently, it seems that they cover the news to fit the editorial opinion that they've pre-conceived.
The next logical step is to end the foolishness of allowing a TPD car to be driven outside the city limits for commuting to residences in Jenks, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso, Glenpool, etc.
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
As a public policy question, this very expensive folly of allowing all 800+ of our sworn LEO's to take-home their assigned police cars, badly needs re-evaluation.
Begun under the reign of former Mayor Silly Susan Savage, to ingratiate herself to the TPD Union in order to win their support for her re-election, her policy allowed EVERY TPD person to take their assigned police car home within the City Limits of Tulsa.
This wasteful, bone-headed policy was later expanded under Mayor Bill MisFortunate.
Mayor MisFortunate expanded the take-home policy to allow our LEO's to drive their assigned vehicles home within TWENTY-FIVE miles of Tulsa, i.e. 41st and Yale.
And, also while moonlighting at second jobs. How GENEROUS with our hard-earned tax dollars.
Again, to ingratiate himself to his very own Praetorian Guard for their expected re-election endorsement.
TPD endorsed Kathy Taylor, instead. Sorry.
With the corrosive effects of higher energy prices on our city operating budget, WHEN will the City Administration and City Council GROUND our free-loading, ruinously expensive, TPD auto take-home policy?
In today's Lorton's World, they provide coverage in their article "Gas Prices Pinch Police", referring to nearby city and county law enforcement organizations coping strategies with higher fuel prices.
Curiously, Tulsa Police department was NOT cited in the story.....
Anyone wonder why?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080719_11_A1_hPARKT284198
You make this so easy.
If you're going to lament having to read the 'Whirled' and spout off about Tulsa Police, at least search the site regarding the policy change they recently made regarding this.
Just...wow.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080626_61_A12_hEDITO146813
Not having the stomach to regularly read the Lorton's World Editorial pages, I missed this editorial.
THANK YOU for pointing out the TPD take-home car policy change, effective four days ago.
That's a step in the right direction.
Funny that there wasn't a corollary news article to accompany their editorial.
Frequently, it seems that they cover the news to fit the editorial opinion that they've pre-conceived.
The next logical step is to end the foolishness of allowing a TPD car to be driven outside the city limits for commuting to residences in Jenks, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso, Glenpool, etc.
Believe it or not, I would agree with your last statement and even take it one further; although I'm sure I'll get roasted in here for it.
I believe it should be policy of the Tulsa Police Department, like many departments, to require their officers reside within the city limits of the jurisdiction they work for.
I know that sounds a little strange, but doesn't that give the police person some kind of vested interest in the job they are performing?
Just one man's opinion regarding the issue.
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
As a public policy question, this very expensive folly of allowing all 800+ of our sworn LEO's to take-home their assigned police cars, badly needs re-evaluation.
Begun under the reign of former Mayor Silly Susan Savage, to ingratiate herself to the TPD Union in order to win their support for her re-election, her policy allowed EVERY TPD person to take their assigned police car home within the City Limits of Tulsa.
This wasteful, bone-headed policy was later expanded under Mayor Bill MisFortunate.
Mayor MisFortunate expanded the take-home policy to allow our LEO's to drive their assigned vehicles home within TWENTY-FIVE miles of Tulsa, i.e. 41st and Yale.
And, also while moonlighting at second jobs. How GENEROUS with our hard-earned tax dollars.
Again, to ingratiate himself to his very own Praetorian Guard for their expected re-election endorsement.
TPD endorsed Kathy Taylor, instead. Sorry.
With the corrosive effects of higher energy prices on our city operating budget, WHEN will the City Administration and City Council GROUND our free-loading, ruinously expensive, TPD auto take-home policy?
In today's Lorton's World, they provide coverage in their article "Gas Prices Pinch Police", referring to nearby city and county law enforcement organizations coping strategies with higher fuel prices.
Curiously, Tulsa Police department was NOT cited in the story.....
Anyone wonder why?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080719_11_A1_hPARKT284198
You make this so easy.
If you're going to lament having to read the 'Whirled' and spout off about Tulsa Police, at least search the site regarding the policy change they recently made regarding this.
Just...wow.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080626_61_A12_hEDITO146813
Not having the stomach to regularly read the Lorton's World Editorial pages, I missed this editorial.
THANK YOU for pointing out the TPD take-home car policy change, effective four days ago.
That's a step in the right direction.
Funny that there wasn't a corollary news article to accompany their editorial.
Frequently, it seems that they cover the news to fit the editorial opinion that they've pre-conceived.
The next logical step is to end the foolishness of allowing a TPD car to be driven outside the city limits for commuting to residences in Jenks, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso, Glenpool, etc.
Believe it or not, I would agree with your last statement and even take it one further; although I'm sure I'll get roasted in here for it.
I believe it should be policy of the Tulsa Police Department, like many departments, to require their officers reside within the city limits of the jurisdiction they work for.
I know that sounds a little strange, but doesn't that give the police person some kind of vested interest in the job they are performing?
Just one man's opinion regarding the issue.
Makes about as much sense as requiring every school teacher to live in the school district they teach in, ..... and requiring every Quik Trip dude to live in the area his store is in, .... and to require every TV reporter to live in the city their station broadcast out of, .... and as much sense as making every welder live in the city where his employer is based.
quote:
Originally posted by Wilbur
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
As a public policy question, this very expensive folly of allowing all 800+ of our sworn LEO's to take-home their assigned police cars, badly needs re-evaluation.
Begun under the reign of former Mayor Silly Susan Savage, to ingratiate herself to the TPD Union in order to win their support for her re-election, her policy allowed EVERY TPD person to take their assigned police car home within the City Limits of Tulsa.
This wasteful, bone-headed policy was later expanded under Mayor Bill MisFortunate.
Mayor MisFortunate expanded the take-home policy to allow our LEO's to drive their assigned vehicles home within TWENTY-FIVE miles of Tulsa, i.e. 41st and Yale.
And, also while moonlighting at second jobs. How GENEROUS with our hard-earned tax dollars.
Again, to ingratiate himself to his very own Praetorian Guard for their expected re-election endorsement.
TPD endorsed Kathy Taylor, instead. Sorry.
With the corrosive effects of higher energy prices on our city operating budget, WHEN will the City Administration and City Council GROUND our free-loading, ruinously expensive, TPD auto take-home policy?
In today's Lorton's World, they provide coverage in their article "Gas Prices Pinch Police", referring to nearby city and county law enforcement organizations coping strategies with higher fuel prices.
Curiously, Tulsa Police department was NOT cited in the story.....
Anyone wonder why?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080719_11_A1_hPARKT284198
You make this so easy.
If you're going to lament having to read the 'Whirled' and spout off about Tulsa Police, at least search the site regarding the policy change they recently made regarding this.
Just...wow.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080626_61_A12_hEDITO146813
Not having the stomach to regularly read the Lorton's World Editorial pages, I missed this editorial.
THANK YOU for pointing out the TPD take-home car policy change, effective four days ago.
That's a step in the right direction.
Funny that there wasn't a corollary news article to accompany their editorial.
Frequently, it seems that they cover the news to fit the editorial opinion that they've pre-conceived.
The next logical step is to end the foolishness of allowing a TPD car to be driven outside the city limits for commuting to residences in Jenks, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso, Glenpool, etc.
Believe it or not, I would agree with your last statement and even take it one further; although I'm sure I'll get roasted in here for it.
I believe it should be policy of the Tulsa Police Department, like many departments, to require their officers reside within the city limits of the jurisdiction they work for.
I know that sounds a little strange, but doesn't that give the police person some kind of vested interest in the job they are performing?
Just one man's opinion regarding the issue.
Makes about as much sense as requiring every school teacher to live in the school district they teach in, ..... and requiring every Quik Trip dude to live in the area his store is in, .... and to require every TV reporter to live in the city their station broadcast out of, .... and as much sense as making every welder live in the city where his employer is based.
Tulsa Police officers should be free to live wherever they want. We are a Metro area.
They just should NOT get the privilege of commuting in OUR police cars, using OUR fuel to travel to incorporated cities outside of Tulsa.
For that matter, with approximately 1/2 of the TPD living outside of Tulsa, they have LESS say in voting themselves tax increases, or voting for their favored candidates locally, since they can't vote here.
You aren't in the metro, FB.
You don't pay taxes.
You clearly don't even care enough to regularly read the paper.
[:O]
quote:
Originally posted by Gold
You aren't in the metro, FB.
You don't pay taxes.
You clearly don't even care enough to regularly read the paper.
[:O]
I pay 8.517% sales tax on virtually every expenditure here in the city of Tulsa.
However, there is no sales tax on newspaper purchase. That's the only tax the Lorton's World met that it didn't like.
One thing that gives me heartburn faster than a Lorton's World editorial is when I see a free-loading Tulsa Policemen in our police car burning our fuel coming into Tulsa from outside the city limits.
Dumb capital expenditure for 800 police cars for 800 police.
Dumber still city operating expenditure to allow commuting in our police cars 25 miles outside of Tulsa.
Dumb and Dumber City Goobermint.
But, they say they need $1.8 billion in more taxes for infrastructure?
Yet, the city can fund the opening of only 4 of 22 city swimming pools, again this summer.
Are the inmates in charge of the insane asylum?
You are such an annoying bear.
Do you really think that the reason there is no sales tax on newspapers is because of the Tulsa World? Do you know how many other states don't tax nespapers? Do you think the Tulsa World is so powerful that they don't tax either?
I also don't think that having a police car for every officer is bad either. How those cars are operated and who pays for the fuel is the argument here, not how many cars we have. I know you struggle with comprehension because it is just easier to make up conspiracy issues, but it really hurts your credibility.
This thread is about police vehicles and take home policies. You started the conversation.
Why do you need to pivot off into street repairs and which pools are open? Can you not stay on topic?
If the take home policy was changed , maybe we could have the police helicopter back on the weekends.
Wonder what we can get out of the new $2 million one we still don't have yet.
quote:
Originally posted by RecycleMichael
You are such an annoying bear.
Do you really think that the reason there is no sales tax on newspapers is because of the Tulsa World? Do you know how many other states don't tax nespapers? Do you think the Tulsa World is so powerful that they don't tax either?
I also don't think that having a police car for every officer is bad either. How those cars are operated and who pays for the fuel is the argument here, not how many cars we have. I know you struggle with comprehension because it is just easier to make up conspiracy issues, but it really hurts your credibility.
This thread is about police vehicles and take home policies. You started the conversation.
Why do you need to pivot off into street repairs and which pools are open? Can you not stay on topic?
Money being fungible, the topics are interrelated.
It's really all about CHOICES in public policy.
Even though our greedy, grasping politicians have an insatiable appetite for new spending and new taxes, the voters still apparently have some say.
Some.
The purchase of 800 police cars for 800 police officers comes directly out of the third penny sales tax:
A "temporary" sales tax that originated in 1980 to fund street and road improvements, and has subsequently been diverted to other "capital" expenditures, like fire trucks, city computers, and police cars.
The percentage of the third penny devoted to street and road improvements has fallen in each successive voter renewal since its inception in 1980, to its current nadir of 28% of the total budgeted Third Penny expenditure.
It was 52% at the previous five-year renewal.
A 1-to-1 ratio of cars to officers means less money for street improvements.
It also means that with the extremely liberal and expensive Police Car take-home policy, more of the city's OPERATING budget is being siphoned off to fuel police cars, maintain police cars, buy new tires, etc.
That DIRECTLY affects the city's ability to fund the public pools. Opening ONE public pools costs $35,000 - $60,000 for the summer. This pronouncement coming from Mayoral Aide Susan Neal's lips on T-Gov.
The city on its own could afford to open only FOUR of 22 public pools this summer. Private donors paid to open another SIX.
Frankly, burning up youngsters excess energy playing in public pools probably does more to reduce crime than allowing our police to commute to Mannford, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Sapulpa, Sand Springs.
The TPD take-home policy also means that less of the city operating budget is available for ROAD MAINTENANCE: Crack sealing, patching, and paving.
The police car take-home policy also means the police cars will wear out faster, coming full circle to bite into the Third Penny capital expenditures, and directly translates into less funding for road improvements.
The two policies in tandem are just:
Dumb and DUMBER.
Regarding the Lorton's aversion to a Tax on Newspapers, they are against it, of course.
They operate the single most powerful mass-circulation newspaper in N.E. Oklahoma, and they have an Agenda, generally Pro-Tax, Pro-Downtown and Pro-Midtown Ruling Oligarchy to the detriment of anyone else.
If the price of a newspaper was raised due to a new tax, that would probably result in reduced sales of newspapers, and also lessen the ability of the World Publishing Co. to raise the price of their newspaper in the future.
Basic Economics 101.
The state legislature proposed taxing newspapers several years ago.
Remember?
That proposal died a quiet death.
Didn't the Lorton's World editorialize against the newspaper tax??
[:O]
quote:
Originally posted by MDepr2007
If the take home policy was changed , maybe we could have the police helicopter back on the weekends.
Wonder what we can get out of the new $2 million one we still don't have yet.
Hasn't every helicopter the TPD ever operated eventually crashed?
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
quote:
Originally posted by Gold
You aren't in the metro, FB.
You don't pay taxes.
You clearly don't even care enough to regularly read the paper.
[:O]
I pay 8.517% sales tax on virtually every expenditure here in the city of Tulsa.
However, there is no sales tax on newspaper purchase. That's the only tax the Lorton's World met that it didn't like.
One thing that gives me heartburn faster than a Lorton's World editorial is when I see a free-loading Tulsa Policemen in our police car burning our fuel coming into Tulsa from outside the city limits.
Dumb capital expenditure for 800 police cars for 800 police.
Dumber still city operating expenditure to allow commuting in our police cars 25 miles outside of Tulsa.
Dumb and Dumber City Goobermint.
But, they say they need $1.8 billion in more taxes for infrastructure?
Yet, the city can fund the opening of only 4 of 22 city swimming pools, again this summer.
Are the inmates in charge of the insane asylum?
You don't live here.
You won't give me a zip code or street address.
Where's the closest reactor -- two hours away on I-40?
You aren't interested in this.
You repeatedly show you don't know the ins and outs of Tulsa.
The World is a newspaper.
They have an interest in the first amendment.
Too bad you are the counter-example for why that liberty isn't perfect.
How does the TPD deal with the IRS issues pertaining to employees taking the cars home?
Do the individual officers have to claim the "company car" as a fringe benefit like I would?
Maybe the IRS should take an interest in this.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p525.pdf
quote:
Originally posted by Gold
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
quote:
Originally posted by Gold
You aren't in the metro, FB.
You don't pay taxes.
You clearly don't even care enough to regularly read the paper.
[:O]
I pay 8.517% sales tax on virtually every expenditure here in the city of Tulsa.
However, there is no sales tax on newspaper purchase. That's the only tax the Lorton's World met that it didn't like.
One thing that gives me heartburn faster than a Lorton's World editorial is when I see a free-loading Tulsa Policemen in our police car burning our fuel coming into Tulsa from outside the city limits.
Dumb capital expenditure for 800 police cars for 800 police.
Dumber still city operating expenditure to allow commuting in our police cars 25 miles outside of Tulsa.
Dumb and Dumber City Goobermint.
But, they say they need $1.8 billion in more taxes for infrastructure?
Yet, the city can fund the opening of only 4 of 22 city swimming pools, again this summer.
Are the inmates in charge of the insane asylum?
You don't live here.
You won't give me a zip code or street address.
Where's the closest reactor -- two hours away on I-40?
You aren't interested in this.
You repeatedly show you don't know the ins and outs of Tulsa.
The World is a newspaper.
They have an interest in the first amendment.
Too bad you are the counter-example for why that liberty isn't perfect.
Thank you for responding.
Your public policy analysis will follow?
On which issue?
You brought up the World and the taxes for newspapers among numerous issues.
I made an argument.
You are again inacapable of forming a complete thought.
You don't add much of substance.
It always goes back to the tinfoil hat.
[^]
Does the Bear live outside of the area?
Anyway:
1) Having police (and fire) live in the city limits or within X miles of the city limits is not uncommon at all. For police, the understanding is that they will serve as a crime deterrent in the neighborhoods in which they live (particularly if they bring their cars home). For fire, they need to be available for emergency calls. The ancillary bennefit is having the economic benefit of tax expenditures BY the city IN the city.
Some cities require a tax of sorts if they wish to live outside the city limits. I'd be perfectly fine with that requirement on all city employees. A 1% payroll tax on all new employees who live outside the city limits of Tulsa. It would encourage people to live IN Tulsa and help fund the infrastructure our city employees use every day to get to their city jobs.
"City limits of Tulsa" provides a large area to choose housing in. From suburban feel, to downtown, to some areas that are virtually rural. Otherwise the privilege of living in Owasso, Jenks, or Broken Arrow would cost a fireman or cop $500 a year.
These are good paying jobs that draw a ton of applicants when they are open. We pay 800 people ~$50,000 a year. Some way of encouraging them to live int he city they "protect and serve" seems prudent. The car thing is a step in the right direction.
2) But if he lived there, he can drive his own dang car. At 58 cents a mile a commute to Broken Arrow was costing tax payers up to $4000 a year. Allowing them to drive as far as they want and moonlight in their vehicles seems too generous to me.
3) BUT, studies have shown 1 cop 1 car policies extend the life of the cars. The primary reason is because the officer is responsible for his/her car. If it breaks down constantly they get eye balled. If the seats go ratty or it is a constant mess THEY have to deal with it.
Add the bennefit of a cop car parked in your neighborhood and I'd say it's worth it. Of course, the financial bennefit as well as the illusion of protection break down when the car is commuting to Pryor.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Does the Bear live outside of the area?
Anyway:
1) Having police (and fire) live in the city limits or within X miles of the city limits is not uncommon at all. For police, the understanding is that they will serve as a crime deterrent in the neighborhoods in which they live (particularly if they bring their cars home). For fire, they need to be available for emergency calls. The ancillary bennefit is having the economic benefit of tax expenditures BY the city IN the city.
Some cities require a tax of sorts if they wish to live outside the city limits. I'd be perfectly fine with that requirement on all city employees. A 1% payroll tax on all new employees who live outside the city limits of Tulsa. It would encourage people to live IN Tulsa and help fund the infrastructure our city employees use every day to get to their city jobs.
"City limits of Tulsa" provides a large area to choose housing in. From suburban feel, to downtown, to some areas that are virtually rural. Otherwise the privilege of living in Owasso, Jenks, or Broken Arrow would cost a fireman or cop $500 a year.
These are good paying jobs that draw a ton of applicants when they are open. We pay 800 people ~$50,000 a year. Some way of encouraging them to live int he city they "protect and serve" seems prudent. The car thing is a step in the right direction.
2) But if he lived there, he can drive his own dang car. At 58 cents a mile a commute to Broken Arrow was costing tax payers up to $4000 a year. Allowing them to drive as far as they want and moonlight in their vehicles seems too generous to me.
3) BUT, studies have shown 1 cop 1 car policies extend the life of the cars. The primary reason is because the officer is responsible for his/her car. If it breaks down constantly they get eye balled. If the seats go ratty or it is a constant mess THEY have to deal with it.
Add the bennefit of a cop car parked in your neighborhood and I'd say it's worth it. Of course, the financial bennefit as well as the illusion of protection break down when the car is commuting to Pryor.
Pryor is outside of the 25 mile TPD commuting range, but I appeciate your argument.
Actually, the only obvious benefit to a police car parked in a Tulsa neighborhood is to the police officer himself.
Why?
Unless he has a death wish, a burglar would be unlikely to break into a house with a police car parked outside because he knows there's an armed and trained LEO inside.
Burglars don't like armed residents.
The police car simply tells the burglar to find another house; just move over to the next street.
I do see a gasoline pump when I drive by the police station at 77th and Riverside Parkway.
I presume the officers use it to pump gas into their police cars.
I wonder if the City of Tulsa has a good system of checking the fueling amounts and fuel consumption used by individual officers?
A bad apple might game the system by filling up his police cruiser, driving it home, and siphoning out fuel for his personal
vehicle(s)........
It could be tempting........
Has former TPD officer Rico Yarborough been sentenced yet?
quote:
Originally posted by Friendly Bear
A bad apple might game the system by filling up his police cruiser, driving it home, and siphoning out fuel for his personal
vehicle(s)........
It could be tempting........
Has former TPD officer Rico Yarborough been sentenced yet?
Same with any other municipal or county yard. I would hope you have to enter the odometer (or Hobbs time for equipment) on a fuel log or the pump when filling up.
That's the way fleet fuel cards work. You have to punch in the current odometer reading before you fuel. That way there is some accountability. Someone might be able to shave a gallon or two here and there with this system, large-scale fraud would be rare with logging and audits. Not a perfect system, and if no one audits the actual mileage on the vehicles it would be easy to steal it.
I'm curious if we use such a tracking system now. Wilbur? MH?
Each TPD vehicle has it's own fuel card. You have to put in the mileage before you refuel your vehicle. If the milage isn't right then you get flagged. There are audits all the time. There is also an automatic cut-off. You can only get so many gallons before the pump stops (the cut-off is different for different vehicles).
side note: many gas pumps have a $99 limit on them. $99 no longer fills many large vehicles tanks and thus they need two transactions to fill up. Since they are just sitting there, the mileage is exactly the same so they get rejected by the fleet card.
Stupid oil prices. They are working on fixing it. Remember when they needed to replace the "1" built in to the front of the price of gas and it was a big deal?
/tanget
quote:
Originally posted by MH2010
Each TPD vehicle has it's own fuel card. You have to put in the mileage before you refuel your vehicle. If the milage isn't right then you get flagged. There are audits all the time. There is also an automatic cut-off. You can only get so many gallons before the pump stops (the cut-off is different for different vehicles).
Whew, that's a relief.
Just in the last two weeks while working off duty jobs, I responded to:
1st degree burglary in progress where the suspect was caught.
Officer involved shooting of a wanted felony suspect, that was also caught.
A pursuit that the DUI suspect was caught.
A motorist that was stranded in the road.
All of this was possible because I was able to have my police car with me while working or on my way to an off duty job. Yes this is also a benefit to me, but also to the citizens of Tulsa and the businesses that hire us. That also pay taxes. I know that many citizens state they feel safer entering a bank or other businesses with officers present. The added benefit that we still respond to emergency situations in the general area of where we are working is a benefit to all citizens. So what seems to be the answer is to find away for officers to still drive their car but the city does not have to pay the entire cost.
Thank you for your insight. Perspective from someone involved always sheds new light on things. I did not realize you answered calls while "off duty."
How much of a hindrance would the "in Tulsa" restriction be in your opinion?
quote:
Originally posted by tnt091605
Just in the last two weeks while working off duty jobs, I responded to:
1st degree burglary in progress where the suspect was caught.
Officer involved shooting of a wanted felony suspect, that was also caught.
A pursuit that the DUI suspect was caught.
A motorist that was stranded in the road.
All of this was possible because I was able to have my police car with me while working or on my way to an off duty job. Yes this is also a benefit to me, but also to the citizens of Tulsa and the businesses that hire us. That also pay taxes. I know that many citizens state they feel safer entering a bank or other businesses with officers present. The added benefit that we still respond to emergency situations in the general area of where we are working is a benefit to all citizens. So what seems to be the answer is to find away for officers to still drive their car but the city does not have to pay the entire cost.
Sounds good.
Wonder if it's true?
Or, just sales hype during the TPD contract negotiations?