NewsHound
07-15-2008, 12:35 AM
Florida Police Pull Themselves Over To Save Gas
Titusville police officers now will be required to get out of their patrol cars and mingle more with the citizenry -- thanks to rising fuel costs.
The department has instituted a series of new policies aimed at stretching its tight fuel budget. Much of the department's budget increase -- about $100,000 worth -- was caused by gas prices ratcheting up to more than $4 a gallon, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
It's one of a variety of measures police agencies across the county are using to reduce the flow of dollars streaming out to pay for gas.
Some current examples:
# The Cocoa Police Department is encouraging more foot patrols.
# The Palm Bay Police Department is asking its officers not to idle their cars for extended periods.
# The Florida Highway Patrol has started doing group traffic enforcement details to save on travel.
# Both the Melbourne Police Department and Brevard County Sheriff's Office are considering ways to streamline costs, including buying more fuel-efficient cars.
The Chevrolet Impalas that make up most patrol fleets get about 19 miles each gallon in city-type driving.
Two of the highlights of Titusville's new fuel-saving plan:
# Patrol officers working the day shift will be encouraged to write reports inside the downtown substation or a local business, instead of in the patrol car. On average, this could save about one hour each day of having the car idling, officials said.
"Several of the banks in town have opened up, (saying): 'Oh, please, use this desk,' " Assistant Police Chief John Lau said. "Anything to get out (of the car). You have the car shut down."
Also on board with the plan are the local Target, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Kelsey's Pizza.
# Patrol officers working at night will park their cars for at least 30 minutes each for each shift, and conduct foot patrols in their assigned areas.
But don't expect wide sweeps of neighborhoods, which is not feasible in Titusville's sprawling community, Lau said. You'll see something more like block walks, he said.
It's helping with crime-fighting, he said. "Already in doing this, we're seeing things," Lau said.
Palm Bay officials figure they saved about 2 cents for each mile previously driven on the patrol cars, and increased fuel efficiency 10 percent after instituting a no-idle policy.
The savings can add up in Palm Bay, where patrol cars guzzle more than 15,000 gallons each month.
The department now is considering charging a per-mile fee to those who take home their police cars, said Yvonne Martinez, a Palm Bay Police Department spokeswoman.
"Who knows what's coming down the pike," she said. "Police work is very driven by fuel. You need a patrol car to do the job. Maybe we'll institute a bicycle patrol."
Source (http://www.officer.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=42300)
Titusville police officers now will be required to get out of their patrol cars and mingle more with the citizenry -- thanks to rising fuel costs.
The department has instituted a series of new policies aimed at stretching its tight fuel budget. Much of the department's budget increase -- about $100,000 worth -- was caused by gas prices ratcheting up to more than $4 a gallon, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
It's one of a variety of measures police agencies across the county are using to reduce the flow of dollars streaming out to pay for gas.
Some current examples:
# The Cocoa Police Department is encouraging more foot patrols.
# The Palm Bay Police Department is asking its officers not to idle their cars for extended periods.
# The Florida Highway Patrol has started doing group traffic enforcement details to save on travel.
# Both the Melbourne Police Department and Brevard County Sheriff's Office are considering ways to streamline costs, including buying more fuel-efficient cars.
The Chevrolet Impalas that make up most patrol fleets get about 19 miles each gallon in city-type driving.
Two of the highlights of Titusville's new fuel-saving plan:
# Patrol officers working the day shift will be encouraged to write reports inside the downtown substation or a local business, instead of in the patrol car. On average, this could save about one hour each day of having the car idling, officials said.
"Several of the banks in town have opened up, (saying): 'Oh, please, use this desk,' " Assistant Police Chief John Lau said. "Anything to get out (of the car). You have the car shut down."
Also on board with the plan are the local Target, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Kelsey's Pizza.
# Patrol officers working at night will park their cars for at least 30 minutes each for each shift, and conduct foot patrols in their assigned areas.
But don't expect wide sweeps of neighborhoods, which is not feasible in Titusville's sprawling community, Lau said. You'll see something more like block walks, he said.
It's helping with crime-fighting, he said. "Already in doing this, we're seeing things," Lau said.
Palm Bay officials figure they saved about 2 cents for each mile previously driven on the patrol cars, and increased fuel efficiency 10 percent after instituting a no-idle policy.
The savings can add up in Palm Bay, where patrol cars guzzle more than 15,000 gallons each month.
The department now is considering charging a per-mile fee to those who take home their police cars, said Yvonne Martinez, a Palm Bay Police Department spokeswoman.
"Who knows what's coming down the pike," she said. "Police work is very driven by fuel. You need a patrol car to do the job. Maybe we'll institute a bicycle patrol."
Source (http://www.officer.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=42300)