2006-08-09 08:16:49 · 24 answers · asked by HP 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Law enforcement officers are some of the lowest paid public servants in this country. I have been in the law enforcement field since 1982 and can speak from experience. If it will save them gas while they go back and forth to their job, go to the corner store for milk, etc., by all means let them! Besides that, they can be available for calls when an emergency arises and they are always on call 24/7. In other words, it cuts their response times, which should be favorable from a tax payer perspective. Thanks for hearing me out.
2006-08-09 11:02:21 · answer #1 · answered by crime_scene223 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only officers who do are state patrol and sheriffs deputies. City PD do not keep their cars at home because they are used by all the officers. The other above mentioned agencies have enough squads for all their officers. Also like someone already mentioned Deputies and State Patrolmen are on call 24hrs, for accidents and such, so they need transportation. A second factor is at least in my county, deputies live anywhere in the county, and my city is at least 20 miles away from the court house so if the cars were kept their and a deputy had to go to a call it would be a ridiculous amount of time for response.
2006-08-09 11:04:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes for several reasons.
Officers are officers 24 hours a day, on or off duty. To and from they are an additional car on the street.
Helps reduce crime in the neighborhoods.
If the officer is the sole driver of that car, it will be better maintained, which will allow the dept. to have it in use an additional year or more, thus reducing expenses on maintenance and new cars.
These are not personal use vehicles, that's not to say some will abuse the privilege until they get caught. Then they could loose their job. It is that serious.
2006-08-10 02:48:12 · answer #3 · answered by Nick R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Studies show that placing a specific officer in charge of the vehicle will help maintain the maintenance of the vehicle---prolonging its life.
It also allows the officer to respond immediately and quickly to an emergency or disaster, even if off duty.
It also allows the officer to go "on duty" the minute he leaves his residence. This actually gives the community 15-30 minutes each day of "free" active duty law enforcement.
2006-08-09 08:59:23 · answer #4 · answered by tnmack 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a matter of policy in each agency. The argument is that with more cars moving about in the city it is difficult to tell which ones are actually working and which ones arent. What does every motorist do when they see a marked police car? Slow down, check their seatbelts etc etc...If the cost of that is a few extra gallons of fuel then the extra police "presence" is a good thing.
Not every agency does this and those that do usually have guidelines about what the vehicles can be used for...kid to school, grocery store on the way home etc. etc.
2006-08-09 10:04:35 · answer #5 · answered by Walter J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most departments don't have enough squad cars to do this. There is also the extra liability. Also, most smart cops don't want the crooks to know where they live.
Some officers take their cars home if they have a resident station (meaning their home is the station - works for smaller departments and CHP offices in remote areas).
2006-08-09 08:31:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it tends to decrease criminal activity in their neighborhoods and they can respond more quickly if something occurs en route to work. On the opposite side, it tags the home as a law enforcement officer and might invite graffiti or other behavior. For the most part, though, people tend to stay away from homes with police cruisers in front of them or in the driveway.
2006-08-09 08:21:33 · answer #7 · answered by curiositycat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely!! It would be logical to think that the more apparent police presence, the less crime there would be. Even if a police car has an off-duty officer in it, a criminal is likely to stop what he is doing if the criminal sees the car go by. Also, a police car in my neighborhood would make me feel safer. In addition, I think if the car is assigned to a particular officer, he or she would be more likely to take care of it. Not only that, it reduces parking congestion around the police stations.
2006-08-09 10:07:07 · answer #8 · answered by harrison 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it saves gas by going straight home. Yes.
However, having a squad car in the neighborhood gives the neighbors a false sense of security.
2006-08-09 08:22:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,and they do take em home in the town I live in.Most of them leave the car parked out on the street because their personnel car is in the driveway.A passer by don't know if a cops in the car or not,therefore it slows people down.And that's a good thing were children are playing.
2006-08-09 09:02:41 · answer #10 · answered by pops 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋