Police to stop take home vehicles to suburbs

[RecycleMichael]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=298&articleid=20091221_298_0_TeTlaF348980

Tulsa FOP to give up suburban take-home car rights

The Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police voted Monday to give up the right to take patrol cars to officers' homes outside of Tulsa. Tulsa World file 
By JARREL WADE World Staff Writer
Published: 12/21/2009 

The Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police has unanimously voted to give up officers' right to drive their patrol cars to their homes outside the city limits.
According to the city administration, the change could save the city more than $1 million during the next fiscal year, FOP President Phil Evans noted after the group met Monday evening.

The take-home car provision is in the FOP's contract with the city, but officers made the concession regarding those who live outside the Tulsa city limits in an effort to mitigate the number of layoffs that may be forced on the Police Department by the city's budget crisis.

"It (the meeting) really wasn't that difficult," Evans said. "We want to help out the city. ... It happened because the guys are all seeing what's happening."

Evans said the vote was unanimous.

"Everyone's got to pitch in to help," he said.

On Friday, Deputy Chief Mark McCrory said as many as 135 officers would be cut from the Tulsa Police Department in the worst-case scenario, according to the final budget-cut proposal the department presented to the Mayor's Office that day.

McCrory said that in the two scenarios the mayor had asked for — a 2.2 percent budget reduction and a 4.4 percent budget reduction — either 56 officers and six civilians or 135 officers and the same six civilians, respectively, could be cut.

At the beginning of December, 808 officers were employed by the Tulsa Police Department.

The federal stimulus money that saved 18 officers' jobs during an earlier round of budget cuts in October would be retained,

McCrory said, but it would move up the chain to save 18 other officers with more seniority.
Twenty-one officers were laid off during the earlier cuts, but 18 of them were rehired with the stimulus money. Those who were laid off and then rehired have the least amount of seniority and would be laid off again, he indicated.

The existing take-home vehicle policy specifies that officers may drive their cars to residences within a 25-mile radius of 41st Street and Yale Avenue, which is considered the geographic center of the city. That allows officers to drive them to suburban communities.

A 2007 study showed that out of the 777 police vehicles, 392 were being driven outside Tulsa's city limits.

The benefit was written into the police union contract in 2005 by then-Mayor Bill LaFortune.

Earlier this fiscal year, some city councilors and then-Mayor Kathy Taylor called on the police union to give up some of the take-home vehicles to avoid further police budget cuts.

The union, having already agreed to furlough days for officers, refused to make additional concessions at that time.

Following the FOP's meeting Monday night, City Councilor Rick Westcott said he hopes the funds saved will go a long way toward saving jobs in the Police Department. "I think it's a positive step," Westcott said. "I know it's not an easy decision to make."

Chief Ron Palmer said earlier this month that the issue of officer take-home vehicles and their use for anything but city business would be discussed during the union contract negotiation process early next year.

The FOP also voted Monday to limit to four the number of officers who can be paid overtime to fill positions during any shift, Evans said. As a result, officers' ability to take time off when they want will be curtailed.

The measure will save an estimated $117,000 during the next six months, Evans said.

[tulsa_fan]

The FOP made a move to save jobs, I hope the mayor will do the same.  I have always thought this was the right thing to do, more so from a PR position, than a financial concession.  I just think it's funny that the Council tried to say it would save 1 mil, wonder how much $$ Bartlett will think it saves.

Also, someone on here will know better, what does it take to reallocate Capital fund money (voted on by the people) to general fund money?  Of course, without some other money saving ideas, it is only a temporary bandaid, but maybe it would at least buy some time to get keep officers on the street in hopes of coming up with a bigger plan of action.  I've never been to confident of management submitting cost cutting proposals, since they are part of the "fluff" that take up so much of each departments budget, how often do you see them saying, "hey, we have too many managers, let's start saving money there"

I'm sure this is a very hard and stressful ordeal for hundreds of city workers, at least police officers have other departments lined up to hire them, if they are willing to move.

[patric]

The Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police voted Monday to give up the right to take patrol cars to officers' homes outside of Tulsa.

Was it a "right" if it was never legal to have been done in the first place?

Sort of like making yourself look like a hero because you gave back the candy you took from the baby...

[Conan71]

I did quick, conservative math on gas alone and that's in the neighborhood of $500K per year.  Insurance and depreciation aren't figured into the $1mm I'd guess.  Add in maintenance costs, and I'd be willing to bet it's more than $1mm.  As far as actual out of pocket cash, easily a mil.

Does anyone honestly think the FOP would agree with a figure as high as the councils when they were trying to preserve an incredible perk?  Anyone know what the penalty is for a federal government employee using a government vehicle for personal purposes?

[MH2010]

Was it a "right" if it was never legal to have been done in the first place?

Sort of like making yourself look like a hero because you gave back the candy you took from the baby...

Are you talking about the city ordinance that was written after the take home cars were negotiated into the contract?

By state law, the contract overrides the municipal ordinance if that was already written in. You're a lawyer, I thought you would know that. The city labor attorney, Tony Puckett, knew it. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20091119_11_A12_Tulsas735197

Conan71, I hope you are right.  I hope it saves over 1 million dollars.  That would save alot of officers' jobs.

[tulsa_fan]

Was it a "right" if it was never legal to have been done in the first place?

Sort of like making yourself look like a hero because you gave back the candy you took from the baby...

Seriously?  Do you not think the City signed off on the same contract?  I'm sorry, but that is such a cheap shot and really, just flat out untrue.  There are plenty of points to argue about what the FOP should or shouldn't be doing, but I'm really tired of you making it sound like they are criminals because they got a benefit from the city, one the city granted.  They didn't take if from them.

MH, from what I have heard, and I'm sure you have heard  more, is that Bartlett wanted "actual" savings, not projected, so I worry that although giving up the cars was THE RIGHT THING TO DO, I don't know how much value he is going to put on it when it comes time to start cutting.  A friend of mine found a copy of a letter he sent to TU people during the election, I'll have to post some of it on here, but the concerning part is he mentioned collaborating with Sheriff Glanz on public safety, really?  How about working with the police department?  I am pretty sure the outsourcing to the sheriff was on his agenda long before he won the election. 

[patric]

I am pretty sure the outsourcing to the sheriff was on his agenda long before he won the election. 

...and possibly his appointment to Public Safety Director?

[RecycleMichael]

I think Mayor Bartlett has played this very well. Involving the County law enforcement to help with policing city areas may have been the tipping point for the police union to have a real conversation about saving the city money.

Why is the FOP so afraid of the Sheriff's department being contracted for services?

[sgrizzle]

I think Mayor Bartlett has played this very well. Involving the County law enforcement to help with policing city areas may have been the tipping point for the police union to have a real conversation about saving the city money.

Why is the FOP so afraid of the Sheriff's department being contracted for services?

If you're making $30/hr, wouldn't you be concerned if your boss started talking about laying people off and replacing them with $20/hr contractors?

[tulsa_fan]

I don't think the FOP is scared of the Sheriff's department helping out.  I am not stupid either.  Lay off a huge number of police officers (which the city has already invested nearly 100k in training) to replace with low wage, less educated and less trained workforce.  That is not a dig against the TCSO, it is just a fact.  New officers are required to have a 4 year degree, spent significantly more time in training (does TCSO even have some kind of academy?) and make more money to compensate for the level of people hired.  As a citizen, I think that is a poor decision.  

Glanz can play we are here to help however we can all over the place, but if you think he is any less after his own good than the FOP you are pretty niaive.  Using the sheriff's department might be a great answer, but why have you not included the chief or deputy chiefs in the discussion?  They heard about from the media.  Kind of like Palmer found out about a public safety director through the media.  Doesn't really sound like much collaboration to me.  It's hard to work in good faith when only one side of the table has already shown they aren't being upfront.  The FOP may not have a role in this discussion, but there is no excuse to not include the management of the department.  Makes it seem more like a hostile takeover than a merger.  

[DowntownNow]

We hear constantly that the TPD requires a 4 year degree to get a better caliber officer that Tulsa just must have for its public safety officers to be effective AND YET TPD is the only force out of the 10 other police departments that it compares itself to for salaries and benefits that requires this level of education.  According to yesterday's TW article none of the other 10 cities has that standard; their requirements range from a GED to 60 hours of college.  TPD officers get a stipend over base wage compensation for having a college degree.

Per the TPD website for applicant requirements:  "Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree with a C+ average or better at an accredited college."  Wow, a C+...talk about average performers.  We dont demand an exception level of fitness performance from our academy graduated officers, why should we expect more educationally than average I guess. 

Now, how exactly does a full four year college degree in micro economics, marketing, bio-chem, etc with a C+ average make for a better officer?  Someone, anyone, please tell me.

TPD whines they are among the lowest paid in the "universe of comparable cities" when in fact they are within $200 of the average pay among the 11 cities.  Tulsa actually outpaces Dallas and Kansas City in starting pay.  Add to that the fact that TPD ranks higher than average by about $1,100 on maximum pay...above that of OKC.  I can't see what they are whining about year after year about needing to be paid more, particularly in times of economic distress.  This is all before taking into account Cost of Living between the comparable cities used.

Phil Evans, FOP Lodge 93 President seems to be getting more famous everytime he talks out of the backend.  In a recent TW article, he's quoted in regards to OKC pay that "It just shows that they put a lot more emphasis on public safety there."

Apparently the man has failed to view the analysis of pay scales that shows while OKC may pay a bit more for starting salaries, Tulsa's max pay is $8,000 higher than OKC.  Over half of the TPD force currently makes the maximum pay allowed.

The more and more one starts to look at the numbers, the more one can realize that this pay issue has just gotten out of hand over the years to the detriment of other departments and personnel and its about time someone step up and put the TPD union in its place.  Glad to see Bartlett may be heading that direction.

[RecycleMichael]

The city estimated the savings to be $550,000 for the six months left in the fiscal year. Divide that by the 392 outside city take home vehicles and it works out to a $2,800 a year perk.

Maybe this will be a positive factor in getting more of the Tulsa Police officers to reside in the city that employs them.

[DowntownNow]

Michael, if that is the perk cost (and Im hoping it is or this is gonna come back and slap the city in the face after the FOP gave up the cars) then if you add that $2,800 perk onto the comparative wage schedule above (which presumably doesnt include the perk), TPD starts at $46,544 and maxs out at $65,583...placing it well into the top 6 out of 11 for starting pay and 6 out of 11 for maximum pay.  So Tulsa maintains the 'average' position for police salaries...right in the middle.  Of course this is again before Cost of Living adjustment between comparable cities again.

Just for giggles, if you took the cost of living into account at the stated Tulsa base starting salary of $43,744, that would be the Austin equivalent of $47,690.  That ranks Tulsa at #5 in starting pay out of the 11 comparable cities.  Maximum pay (when also adjusted to Austin) positions Tulsa from $62,783 to $68,446 and ranks it now #4 out of 11.  There is an average 9% increase in cost of living between Tulsa and Austin.  All of a sudden, one can see the TPD is not at or near the bottom of the comparable cities list as they have continuously claimed to be.

[Conan71]

Maybe that's one reason we have budget short-falls.  The city's accounting sucks.

Anyone else able to drive a late model car for $2800 a year, all-inclusive?

Gas
Depreciation
Accrued Maintenance and wear
Insurance

No way it's only $2800 per year.  I'm not even taking into consideration depreciation on the electronic equipment in the vehicle either.

[patric]

Another thorn in the side for take-home vehicles to the suburbs:

TPD cruiser going 100+ MPH without lights and sirens.
Video given to FOX23 from a viewer showing what he says is a Tulsa Police Department cruiser traveling at unsafe speeds on Highway 75 without sirens or lights has the department taking action.

That's when Mark grabbed his iPhone and started recording. Mark has to go up to 90 miles an hour to keep up with the cruiser.When he finally caught up with the car at the Tulsa Police Department Training Academy, he recorded the car's vehicle number and tag number.

Captain Brooks says there are instances when lights and sirens may not be used.
"Sometimes the mere lights and sirens tend to cause more disruption than the officer just moving through the traffic." Another is when trying not to tip off a suspect.

The department admits, it appears neither of those reasons where in place when Mark recorded his video. FOX23 has learned many officers who live outside the city will use the Academy's lot to keep their personal cars while they are working a shift. They will then bring their cruiser to the Academy to swap it with their personal car since departmental policy does not allow patrol vehicles to be taken home by officers who live outside the city limits.

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Driver-TPD-cruiser-going-100-MPH-without-lights/WGvS0iRZp0yo1BmyDKdPvg.cspx