Baltimore Mayor will review cop-car policy

Mayor will review cop-car policy

Stephen Janis, The Examiner
Feb 16, 2007 3:00 AM (17 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 37 of 12,134 articles
BALTIMORE - Baltimore police commanders who use take-home cars to commute to and from work have drawn the attention of Mayor Sheila Dixon.

Responding to a Monday Examiner story that reported some commanders were using unmarked cars — paid for and maintained by the city — as take-home cars, Dixon said it is one of many issues she will examine as part of an overhaul of the city’s financial structure.

“It’s a concern that police are driving [home] to Pennsylvania with take-home cars,” she said Thursday at a City Hall news conference. “This is something we’ve had concerns about in the City Council as well.”

Baltimore Police Department officials declined to comment on the number of cars being used — or the cost to the taxpayers.

The earlier story also reported that roughly 50 top commanders do not live in the city, including eight who reside in Pennsylvania.

“It’s true some of our command staff members live outside the city. It’s also true they have risked their lives and dedicated their professional lives to protecting the people of Baltimore,” police spokesman Matt Jablow said. “These men and women are often at work in the city for 12, 15 hours a day, six and seven days a week. They are more a part of their districts — and know their districts better — than many of the residents.”

The Examiner has confirmed that only three top-level commanders — including Major Jessie Odom, commander of public housing police, and Major Rick Hite of the community relations division — reside in the city.

“We know our police officers are working hard,” Dixon said, “but we also have to watch the taxpayers’ money.”

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com
Examiner