Scott will pull take-home cars from civilian employees
By ANNE MARIE APOLLO, amapollo@naplesnews.com
Friday, December 3, 2004
Incoming Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott says his decision to eliminate take-home cars for some of the agency's civilian employees is not personal. He's fulfilling promises he made to voters, he said.
"If they look at our mission and what we're trying to do, I think they'll come to understand," Scott said of the affected workers.
Running on a platform of cutting waste in the department, Scott defeated Sheriff Rod Shoap in the Aug. 31 primary election. Though he takes office in January, his plans to show proof he would follow through on his promises began months ago.
Shortly after ending a campaign laced with pledges to reduce spending on non-essentials and focus cash on law enforcement, Scott announced a restructuring the department agency's hierarchy. Through early retirement and demotion, the number of chiefs in the department shrank from four to one. Instead of eight majors, Scott plans to use five.
Former Bonita Springs Mayor Paul Pass also lost his position as senior planner and liaison between the Sheriff's Office and the Lee County Commission and city governments.
Last month, 28 Sheriff's Office civilian workers found out they would lose their county-financed cars. As many as 12 to 20 more may get similar notices, Scott said.
The employees ranged from secretaries to attorneys. Each had not only use of cars owned by the Sheriff's Office but also were reimbursed for gasoline and maintenance expenses.
In one case an individual worker's commute consumed up to two tanks of gas a week, Scott said, explaining his decision.
"That's just wasteful," he said.
Not all the cars are luxury rides.
Some are more than 10 years old or have more than 150,000 miles and likely will be eliminated from the Sheriff's Office's fleet. Others, mostly midsized sedans, probably will be painted and be put to use by detectives or narcotics officers, though some employees had use of SUVs that will be reassigned to canine units or to detectives, Scott said.
The incoming administration tried to give workers ample time to make other arrangements because the take-home cars had been a longstanding and much appreciated perk, Scott said. They have until Jan. 31 to give up the vehicles.
The long-term financial effect of the move is not yet known. Though nearly 50 cars might be affected, Scott estimated the agency maintains a fleet of about 600 vehicles.
An exact count of the cars was not available Thursday from the Sheriff's Office.
The majority of vehicles owned by the agency are for the use of law enforcement officials.
Scott said he has no plans to cut back on those take-home cars, saying the practice keeps the county well-prepared in case of natural disaster or other emergencies.
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