02-10-2008, 07:08 PM
Cuts could cause Clearwater officers to lose privilege
Thursday, February 7, 2008
PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Clearwater police officers could lose a privilege because of budget cuts.
Earlier this week, a city auditor reported to city council members Clearwater spends about $374,000 per year in gas and mileage for police officers who commute to and from work in their take-home cars.
Currently, officers who live within 20-miles of the city boundary are allowed to drive their cars home.
The auditor recommended reducing that boundary to Pinellas County and charging out-of-county commuters 50-cents per mile for the distance between their homes and the police department's northeast substation.
Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein spoke to council members and objected to any changes to the current take-home policy.
"This is going to delay response time," Klein said. "Which is critical in being able to conduct our operational responsibilities."
Klein also pointed out charging out-of-county commuters would be unfair since an officer who lives in south Pinellas County would have a longer commute than an officer just outside of the county's northern boundary.
The chief estimated a commuting officer could spend as much as $2,700 out-of-pocket, something that could turn them away forever.
"We are competing with agencies all across the country," Klein said. "That provide lucrative signing bonuses just to join the department in addition to providing those officers with take-home vehicles with very little restrictions."
According to the auditor out of the 180 city take-home cars; 150 are assigned to police officers. Forty-four of those officers live outside of Pinellas County.
E-mail TV reporter Carol Minn
Thursday, February 7, 2008
PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Clearwater police officers could lose a privilege because of budget cuts.
Earlier this week, a city auditor reported to city council members Clearwater spends about $374,000 per year in gas and mileage for police officers who commute to and from work in their take-home cars.
Currently, officers who live within 20-miles of the city boundary are allowed to drive their cars home.
The auditor recommended reducing that boundary to Pinellas County and charging out-of-county commuters 50-cents per mile for the distance between their homes and the police department's northeast substation.
Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein spoke to council members and objected to any changes to the current take-home policy.
"This is going to delay response time," Klein said. "Which is critical in being able to conduct our operational responsibilities."
Klein also pointed out charging out-of-county commuters would be unfair since an officer who lives in south Pinellas County would have a longer commute than an officer just outside of the county's northern boundary.
The chief estimated a commuting officer could spend as much as $2,700 out-of-pocket, something that could turn them away forever.
"We are competing with agencies all across the country," Klein said. "That provide lucrative signing bonuses just to join the department in addition to providing those officers with take-home vehicles with very little restrictions."
According to the auditor out of the 180 city take-home cars; 150 are assigned to police officers. Forty-four of those officers live outside of Pinellas County.
E-mail TV reporter Carol Minn