Tulsa Police - the cars do not belong to them - they are paid by our tax money!

[T-town girl]

I would like to know how the Tulsa Police let 21 of their own men / women be layed off? Its easy to blame Mayor Taylor but she has offered different solutions and the #1 solution is cop cars! Is it true that 60% of TPD live outside of T-town and they still drive their patrol car home? I thought the TPD was a brotherhood - the TFD knows how to take care of their own - they do not have any lay offs. Its time for TPD to do the right thing for Tulsa!!

[RecycleMichael]

I am OK with letting a police officer drive his patrol car home if they live in Tulsa. That would be a nice incentive for them to reside in the town in which they work and Tulsa neighborhoods would feel safer.

It is the out-of-town take home policy that most of us have a problem with. It is a luxury that we taxpayers can't afford anymore.

[waterboy]

I am OK with letting a police officer drive his patrol car home if they live in Tulsa. That would be a nice incentive for them to reside in the town in which they work and Tulsa neighborhoods would feel safer.

It is the out-of-town take home policy that most of us have a problem with. It is a luxury that we taxpayers can't afford anymore.

Agreed. Michael your remarks on this matter have been focussed and well crafted. We simply have to put the level of services we demand of the city in line with our ability to pay for them. Past luxuries cannot be funded during poor economic times.

[jne]

I am OK with letting a police officer drive his patrol car home if they live in Tulsa. That would be a nice incentive for them to reside in the town in which they work and Tulsa neighborhoods would feel safer.

It is the out-of-town take home policy that most of us have a problem with. It is a luxury that we taxpayers can't afford anymore.

+1  - come on how obvious is this? 

[shadows]

Agreed. Michael your remarks on this matter have been focussed and well crafted. We simply have to put the level of services we demand of the city in line with our ability to pay for them. Past luxuries cannot be funded during poor economic times.

The recent vandalizing of a police car sitting at the officers home at the time frame when others citizens are going to work leaves a doubt in the minds of many citizens.  If the police cannot protect the taxpayer property them one would assume that a single parking lot should be provided and an independent security company be hired to protect the taxpayer's property.

Or is that what Tulsa crime scene has come to? 

[cannon_fodder]

Claremore has it figured out:

Officers assigned personal take home units will use good judgment in utilizing them.  Avoiding any conduct likely to cause unfavorable comment or embarrassment to the Claremore Police Department.  Examples: parking illegally, inappropriate driving behavior, testing siren in neighborhoods etc. 
1.   Eligibility for participation in the assigned take home unit program must meet the following:
A.   Officer resides within the Claremore City limits
B.   Upon approval of the Chief of Police
C.   Vehicles will be assigned to those officers who meet the first two requirements, if vehicles are available.
D.   If more officers are eligible for a vehicle and vehicles are not available, an eligibility

Claremore Police Department Policies and Procedures.

While we are at it, Claremore also has a drug testing policy and a DVR policy. 

2.   Policy Statement
   The use of an in-car video system can provide powerful evidence of criminal activity.  The audio and visual record of a suspect's actions and statements can be the most powerful evidence of criminal activity.  The in-car camera or digital Video Recorder has also been proven to be a valuable tool for law enforcement practitioners by documenting their honesty, integrity, and professionalism. The use of an in-car video system will quickly resolve many unfounded complaints against officers.  This system will also deter many unfounded and frivolous lawsuits against the Claremore Police Department and the City of Claremore.  By virtue of their authority, law enforcement personnel are held to a higher degree of accountability by the community and must continuously strive to ensure that this contract is not violated. Therefore, by keeping this trust and maximizing the effectiveness of this valuable tool, the following procedures for In-Car Camera equipment use are set forth.

Claremore Police Department Policies and Procedures.


It's kind of embarrassing when a small suburb seems to run things better than the larger municipality. 

[tulsa_fan]

I am all for parking cars for those that live outside of the city limits, I guess the one thing that still bothers me, is again, this was taken in leiu of a raise several years ago, I beileve an approximate 4%, this benefit didn't help all officers, but for the "good of the order" it was approved.  I wonder why other city employees aren't being asked to take another 4% hit in pay.  Other departments got that raise, police didn't, they got to take their cars home instead.  I just wish people would focus more on the facts and less on the emotions of all of this. 

The FOP presented an option to take all overtime in time off rather than pay for the year, which would have eliminiated the need for furloughs, cutting mounted and helicoptors, keep all 21 officers and, guess what, even hire 18 more officers because the $$ would have been there to actually use the stimulus money as promised.  Why assume that only the FOP is saying no to reasonable options.

The firefighter's aren't doing more to help the budget crunch, they were just smart enough to put the language to protect themselves from future layoffs.  They choose to take their hits in a different way a few months ago, and make the mayor promise no more cuts.  Doesn't sound like doing their part, everyone else is having to cut again, except the firemen.

I really don't think the mayor sucks across the board, but more and more as I learn details, I am becoming convinced this is way more political than just a "budget crisis", which is so sad to me.

[patric]

It's kind of embarrassing when a small suburb seems to run things better than the larger municipality. 

I think they have a different union than we do.   

[Nik]

I am against allowing cops to take home their cars if they live outside the city limits even in good economic times. and i live in a suburb.

[Conan71]

I am all for parking cars for those that live outside of the city limits, I guess the one thing that still bothers me, is again, this was taken in leiu of a raise several years ago, I beileve an approximate 4%, this benefit didn't help all officers, but for the "good of the order" it was approved.  I wonder why other city employees aren't being asked to take another 4% hit in pay.  Other departments got that raise, police didn't, they got to take their cars home instead.  I just wish people would focus more on the facts and less on the emotions of all of this. 

The FOP presented an option to take all overtime in time off rather than pay for the year, which would have eliminiated the need for furloughs, cutting mounted and helicoptors, keep all 21 officers and, guess what, even hire 18 more officers because the $$ would have been there to actually use the stimulus money as promised.  Why assume that only the FOP is saying no to reasonable options.

The firefighter's aren't doing more to help the budget crunch, they were just smart enough to put the language to protect themselves from future layoffs.  They choose to take their hits in a different way a few months ago, and make the mayor promise no more cuts.  Doesn't sound like doing their part, everyone else is having to cut again, except the firemen.

I really don't think the mayor sucks across the board, but more and more as I learn details, I am becoming convinced this is way more political than just a "budget crisis", which is so sad to me.

Taking 4% of $50,000 which I figured would be an average salary across seniority ranges, that would be a $2000 per year raise.  If that privelege kept someone from having to buy a vehicle for commuting, that would save them around $6000 per year in payments, insurance, and tags.  Far better deal than a raise.  I don't like the take home policy for those living outside the city limits.

[sgrizzle]

One thing people haven't addressed fully. If a TPD officer is taking his vehicle home outside the city, that means that he or she is not paying taxes into the area he patrols, not voting for the officials who control his job and otherwise completely checked out of the community he or she is supposed to be protecting. Any officer who complains about budget cuts while spending their paycheck on a suburban housepayment and groceries at a BA Walmart needs a glass of water dumped on their heads.

I am against take home for out of city but would accept the following compromise:
Officers can take home their vehicles ONLY if they agree to have a standardized fee deducted from their paycheck to compensate for the fuel they are using. Approximately $30/week for in-city officers and $45/week for out-of-city officers. That would recoup the same costs and allow for officers who, for one reason or another, cannot provide their own transportation.

[RecycleMichael]

I guess the one thing that still bothers me, is again, this was taken in leiu of a raise several years ago, I beileve an approximate 4%, this benefit didn't help all officers, but for the "good of the order" it was approved.  I wonder why other city employees aren't being asked to take another 4% hit in pay. 

Yes. That was the same year that all other city employees took a 2% pay cut. Lafortune cut the pay for everybody besides police, but he gave them take home vehicles instead of the 4% pay that the police union determined they were due.

The best part of the story is that even after this gift on the backs of other city workers, the union didn't endorse LaFortune the follwing year, instead endorsing Randi Miller in the primary and Kathy Taylor in the general.

[MDepr2007]

Yes. That was the same year that all other city employees took a 2% pay cut. Lafortune cut the pay for everybody besides police, but he gave them take home vehicles instead of the 4% pay that the police union determined they were due.

The best part of the story is that even after this gift on the backs of other city workers, the union didn't endorse LaFortune the follwing year, instead endorsing Randi Miller in the primary and Kathy Taylor in the general.

And in 2006 TPD got a raise from Taylor.

[RecycleMichael]

And in 2006 TPD got a raise from Taylor.

All city employees got a pay raise in 2006.

[Kashmir]

C'mon guys...give us a hit of the old dirty Friendly Bear post regarding this issue....Just for giggles?

Complete with large text and BOLD words...
Pretty Please

Vroooom