Having a car to take home means that for every 8 hrs each cop works, we are getting at least an extra hour or so a day of them being on duty in the car while they are going to and coming from work if they spend 30 minutes each way. That's 13% more work for the same cost and probably more since they would likely leave their area before 8 hrs to switch cars if they had to. I used to drive a shared work vehicle and it was beat down, had it been assigned to one person I'm sure it would have lasted much longer than it did. Is that so hard to understand?
A extra tank of gas every few days is worth it given the extra cars and cops running around. Drive you wife, your kids, your mom I don't care. The thugs see a police car, they see a cop and they don't know if he sees them so they keep their heads down. The Sun should give up on trolling for a story that just isn't there, the poll bears witness to that. I only wish a neighbor or two had a police car to commute in, I'd love to see it cruising my hood.
Rich - 11 years ago
baltimore sun...did you consider that agencies pay officers less because they consider a take home car a "benefit" and pay roughly $10,000.00 less that agencies who do not have a take home car? Obviously you did not know that because that would have most likely changed your survey.
Just an fyi police also pay taxes, can't contribute or draw social security and so on. How about making a pro police survey. Something that does not slam the police or what they do or the very few "benefits" they have.
You should really do a survey on how police salaries have been cut in Maryland for the last 8 years. Or how much more police resources are used in Baltimore city than everywhere else in the state. Get your facts strait before you post ridiculous surveys that bring a negative connotation to police work.
You have my email when your ready to put up a pro police survey please email me I will help you write it.
Mark - 11 years ago
They are required to take action when they see something serious or life threatening. Also with these extra vehicle's being visible and around, they are a deterrent to the criminal elements because they don't know if the patrol vehicle has an officer on duty or off duty in or near it. The officer could be out of the county and parked some place and it is a visual deterrent.
Just like when the state place's a marked police vehicle with a uniformed dummy sitting in it. For tge girst few day's everyone slows down as some as they see it, thinking it's a real person in the vehicle. Then they move it to another location and it starts all over.
Bob - 11 years ago
Baltimore city should really take a look at take home cars for its officers. It could be a great tool to incentivize officers to live in the city as well helping to recruit good candidates. My neighborhood would be thrilled to have a patrol vehicle parked on the street and it would certainly deter crime. Officers with take home cars are basically providing a free service to the city by deterring crime and taking action if
necessary.
Tim - 11 years ago
Why is the Sun always trying to drum up a controversy. Let them take the cars home and by the looks of the poll, the majority supports it.
Take home vehicles put cops on the street all the time. another comment here talked about cops taking vehicles to the movies! Malls etc. I would rather pull into the local theater and see 5 police cars there because I would know that those cops in the movies have guns to protect & serve just as they would in uniform. If every cop in Maryland had a vehicle as part of the benefits package crime would fall in every neighborhood across Maryland. It's a win win for all involved.
Ryan - 11 years ago
I think that it is a very good thing! The patrol car's would actually be taken care of because the officer's would be held responsible for that car and they would want to take care of it because they know they have to get into it every day they go into work. Another thing is the presence. It makes it look like there are many more officer's not he streets than there actually are. I think that Baltimore City should consider it! Just think if you seen more patrol car's driving around! It would help to drastically decrease crime!!! They are always trying to find ways to put more officers on the street for less money, well, this is a way to do it for free at the cost of a take home car! I don't think officer's that live 25 miles away should have a take home, but if you live within 10 miles of the city, it should be an option. Just throwing that out there!
John - 11 years ago
dont agree. I see too many officers who use them for personal use, take wives, spouses, friends to dinner, movies ect. I have no problem with them taking them home and then use their own vey for their use. But not the police car. As far as being armed and able to react to a incident, I doubt they will with a child or spouse in a car, they would not put them in harms way.
Doug - 11 years ago
Take home personal cars are the best solution to defeat several issues at once. It forces individual officers to be held accountable for their issued vehicle. They are required to maintain that vehicle and if any damage occurs they are required to have the vehicle serviced. Officers are required to keep vehicles clean and serviceable, if not then they have to live with a crappy car. You don't have issues with pool cars that are shared and everyone has the "it's not my car" mentality. This effectively reduces the cost of repairs and the cars ultimately last a lot longer.
Secondly, have you ever experienced a line of cars in traffic simultaneously slam on their brakes when a cop is spotted on the shoulder? You have observed first hand that police presence deters crime. Now imagine if police officers drive around even off duty, they are a visual presence that can deter someone from committing a crime. Obviously not the catch all perfect solution, but it does work.
Source: We have vehicles with far over 200,000 misses on them and are still operational. Most of them are still in very good condition too.
Nate - 11 years ago
Take home cars equate to more officers on the street able to act if needed and be called in more quickly during emegencies, greater police presence, increased morale, and more. This and less wear and tear on cars that don't run 24/7 mean they last longer and look better as there is greater pride in taking care of what's "theirs." It all translates to a great deal for the government and public, well worth the "cost of fuel"
Robert - 11 years ago
Cops have a tough job as is dealing with everyone else's shit, and they are taxpayers too, also there underpaid for risking there lives. Doesn't matter when ever there in there vehicle they are considered on duty and weather that be accidents or Robbery's close by they will respond because that's there job, there have been many accidents police have helped out on off duty. Plus there not the only ones with take home cars but of all the people who do take one home I think there's is most important because it's a crime deterrent where ever they go. Yes please let them take there vehicles home!!
jason - 11 years ago
Cops who have take home cars should have the luxury of using it as a personal car. Whenever a cop is off duty in a patrol car he or she is armed and capable to carry out his or her duties. Is all about police presence. It's too bad not all department have that option.
Having a car to take home means that for every 8 hrs each cop works, we are getting at least an extra hour or so a day of them being on duty in the car while they are going to and coming from work if they spend 30 minutes each way. That's 13% more work for the same cost and probably more since they would likely leave their area before 8 hrs to switch cars if they had to. I used to drive a shared work vehicle and it was beat down, had it been assigned to one person I'm sure it would have lasted much longer than it did. Is that so hard to understand?
A extra tank of gas every few days is worth it given the extra cars and cops running around. Drive you wife, your kids, your mom I don't care. The thugs see a police car, they see a cop and they don't know if he sees them so they keep their heads down. The Sun should give up on trolling for a story that just isn't there, the poll bears witness to that. I only wish a neighbor or two had a police car to commute in, I'd love to see it cruising my hood.
baltimore sun...did you consider that agencies pay officers less because they consider a take home car a "benefit" and pay roughly $10,000.00 less that agencies who do not have a take home car? Obviously you did not know that because that would have most likely changed your survey.
Just an fyi police also pay taxes, can't contribute or draw social security and so on. How about making a pro police survey. Something that does not slam the police or what they do or the very few "benefits" they have.
You should really do a survey on how police salaries have been cut in Maryland for the last 8 years. Or how much more police resources are used in Baltimore city than everywhere else in the state. Get your facts strait before you post ridiculous surveys that bring a negative connotation to police work.
You have my email when your ready to put up a pro police survey please email me I will help you write it.
They are required to take action when they see something serious or life threatening. Also with these extra vehicle's being visible and around, they are a deterrent to the criminal elements because they don't know if the patrol vehicle has an officer on duty or off duty in or near it. The officer could be out of the county and parked some place and it is a visual deterrent.
Just like when the state place's a marked police vehicle with a uniformed dummy sitting in it. For tge girst few day's everyone slows down as some as they see it, thinking it's a real person in the vehicle. Then they move it to another location and it starts all over.
Baltimore city should really take a look at take home cars for its officers. It could be a great tool to incentivize officers to live in the city as well helping to recruit good candidates. My neighborhood would be thrilled to have a patrol vehicle parked on the street and it would certainly deter crime. Officers with take home cars are basically providing a free service to the city by deterring crime and taking action if
necessary.
Why is the Sun always trying to drum up a controversy. Let them take the cars home and by the looks of the poll, the majority supports it.
Take home vehicles put cops on the street all the time. another comment here talked about cops taking vehicles to the movies! Malls etc. I would rather pull into the local theater and see 5 police cars there because I would know that those cops in the movies have guns to protect & serve just as they would in uniform. If every cop in Maryland had a vehicle as part of the benefits package crime would fall in every neighborhood across Maryland. It's a win win for all involved.
I think that it is a very good thing! The patrol car's would actually be taken care of because the officer's would be held responsible for that car and they would want to take care of it because they know they have to get into it every day they go into work. Another thing is the presence. It makes it look like there are many more officer's not he streets than there actually are. I think that Baltimore City should consider it! Just think if you seen more patrol car's driving around! It would help to drastically decrease crime!!! They are always trying to find ways to put more officers on the street for less money, well, this is a way to do it for free at the cost of a take home car! I don't think officer's that live 25 miles away should have a take home, but if you live within 10 miles of the city, it should be an option. Just throwing that out there!
dont agree. I see too many officers who use them for personal use, take wives, spouses, friends to dinner, movies ect. I have no problem with them taking them home and then use their own vey for their use. But not the police car. As far as being armed and able to react to a incident, I doubt they will with a child or spouse in a car, they would not put them in harms way.
Take home personal cars are the best solution to defeat several issues at once. It forces individual officers to be held accountable for their issued vehicle. They are required to maintain that vehicle and if any damage occurs they are required to have the vehicle serviced. Officers are required to keep vehicles clean and serviceable, if not then they have to live with a crappy car. You don't have issues with pool cars that are shared and everyone has the "it's not my car" mentality. This effectively reduces the cost of repairs and the cars ultimately last a lot longer.
Secondly, have you ever experienced a line of cars in traffic simultaneously slam on their brakes when a cop is spotted on the shoulder? You have observed first hand that police presence deters crime. Now imagine if police officers drive around even off duty, they are a visual presence that can deter someone from committing a crime. Obviously not the catch all perfect solution, but it does work.
Source: We have vehicles with far over 200,000 misses on them and are still operational. Most of them are still in very good condition too.
Take home cars equate to more officers on the street able to act if needed and be called in more quickly during emegencies, greater police presence, increased morale, and more. This and less wear and tear on cars that don't run 24/7 mean they last longer and look better as there is greater pride in taking care of what's "theirs." It all translates to a great deal for the government and public, well worth the "cost of fuel"
Cops have a tough job as is dealing with everyone else's shit, and they are taxpayers too, also there underpaid for risking there lives. Doesn't matter when ever there in there vehicle they are considered on duty and weather that be accidents or Robbery's close by they will respond because that's there job, there have been many accidents police have helped out on off duty. Plus there not the only ones with take home cars but of all the people who do take one home I think there's is most important because it's a crime deterrent where ever they go. Yes please let them take there vehicles home!!
Cops who have take home cars should have the luxury of using it as a personal car. Whenever a cop is off duty in a patrol car he or she is armed and capable to carry out his or her duties. Is all about police presence. It's too bad not all department have that option.