NewsHound
07-03-2008, 10:12 PM
Hillsborough Sheriff Tells Employees To Cut Fuel Use
TAMPA Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee wants employees to reduce fuel use in sheriff's office vehicles by at least 10 percent.
In a June 17 memorandum, Gee told employees that the reduction is necessary due to rising gas prices and a murky budget outlook. He also asked employees to use the least expensive fuel possible.
"Voluntary reduction is the first step to reduce our costs, which amounts to several million dollars each year," Gee wrote. "More drastic steps may be required in the future to ensure that we are able to fulfill our highest priorities, however, voluntary assistance from each of you can go a long way to avoid those measures."
Other area law enforcement agencies are considering or have implemented fuel-saving measures.
The Tampa Police Department is drafting a letter encouraging employees to be more conservative with fuel use, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.
St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said administrators are discussing having a computerized way for an officer with a take-home cruiser to do be told of missing persons reports and other information without needing to start a shift at the police station. That would save money on fuel, he said.
In Pasco County, Sheriff Bob White put the brakes on off-duty use of agency vehicles on June 1. The new policy was put in place to save fuel, according to sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin.
While Polk County hasn't sent out a memo, the sheriff's office there also has recognized the need to conserve fuel, sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said.
"We're working on some cost-saving strategies even now," she said. "We're taking a look at some ways to be more cost-efficient as well."
In Gee's memo to staff, he said supervisors should more closely monitor employee fuel usage. He said employee vehicles should idle only for long periods when it's a necessity and that the vehicles shouldn't be left running solely to provide air conditioning.
Carpools should be used for official travel to conferences and for administrative matters, he wrote.
"Patrol Deputies should attempt to stay in or near their assigned areas to the extent possible, unless a high-priority matter requires them to travel to another area," he wrote. "Patrol Supervisors should increase efforts to 'stack' lower priority calls and hold them for the deputies assigned to the zones in question, thereby avoiding situations where deputies from other zones are driving long distances to low-priority calls."
Gee also told employees to make sure their tires are properly inflated and to make sure that when they're getting gasoline at a commercial location, they use a vendor that issues a government discount.
Helicopter use by the sheriff's office won't be impacted by the memo, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter, who added that helicopters serve a vital purpose when searching for suspects or suspect vehicles.
It's too early to tell if the memo has had an effect on fuel use, she said. But she said deputies were receptive when they read the request.
"The economy is affecting anyone, and I think they understand the economical impact," she said.
The employees who take vehicles home still will be allowed to do so, she said.
"They can only use the vehicle in the course of work anyway; that's not going to change," she said. "You have to understand a deputy is on duty until the moment he pulls into his driveway."
In Pasco County, the ban on off-duty use of agency vehicles affected dozens of detention deputies and civilian employees. Some civilians who respond to crime scenes, such as lawyers and the sheriff's two spokesmen, are still allowed to use staff cars off-duty. Another 50 vehicles, including those driven by the human resources director, a computer trainer, the fiscal director, a radio specialist, civil court processors, several bailiffs and detention staff, were also parked during non-work hours.
The ban doesn't affect deputies who use their cruisers to patrol neighborhoods after hours because that fuel is factored into the service contract, Tobin said.
Source (http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/03/hillsborough-sheriff-tells-employees-cut-fuel-use/?news-breaking)
TAMPA Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee wants employees to reduce fuel use in sheriff's office vehicles by at least 10 percent.
In a June 17 memorandum, Gee told employees that the reduction is necessary due to rising gas prices and a murky budget outlook. He also asked employees to use the least expensive fuel possible.
"Voluntary reduction is the first step to reduce our costs, which amounts to several million dollars each year," Gee wrote. "More drastic steps may be required in the future to ensure that we are able to fulfill our highest priorities, however, voluntary assistance from each of you can go a long way to avoid those measures."
Other area law enforcement agencies are considering or have implemented fuel-saving measures.
The Tampa Police Department is drafting a letter encouraging employees to be more conservative with fuel use, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.
St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said administrators are discussing having a computerized way for an officer with a take-home cruiser to do be told of missing persons reports and other information without needing to start a shift at the police station. That would save money on fuel, he said.
In Pasco County, Sheriff Bob White put the brakes on off-duty use of agency vehicles on June 1. The new policy was put in place to save fuel, according to sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin.
While Polk County hasn't sent out a memo, the sheriff's office there also has recognized the need to conserve fuel, sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood said.
"We're working on some cost-saving strategies even now," she said. "We're taking a look at some ways to be more cost-efficient as well."
In Gee's memo to staff, he said supervisors should more closely monitor employee fuel usage. He said employee vehicles should idle only for long periods when it's a necessity and that the vehicles shouldn't be left running solely to provide air conditioning.
Carpools should be used for official travel to conferences and for administrative matters, he wrote.
"Patrol Deputies should attempt to stay in or near their assigned areas to the extent possible, unless a high-priority matter requires them to travel to another area," he wrote. "Patrol Supervisors should increase efforts to 'stack' lower priority calls and hold them for the deputies assigned to the zones in question, thereby avoiding situations where deputies from other zones are driving long distances to low-priority calls."
Gee also told employees to make sure their tires are properly inflated and to make sure that when they're getting gasoline at a commercial location, they use a vendor that issues a government discount.
Helicopter use by the sheriff's office won't be impacted by the memo, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter, who added that helicopters serve a vital purpose when searching for suspects or suspect vehicles.
It's too early to tell if the memo has had an effect on fuel use, she said. But she said deputies were receptive when they read the request.
"The economy is affecting anyone, and I think they understand the economical impact," she said.
The employees who take vehicles home still will be allowed to do so, she said.
"They can only use the vehicle in the course of work anyway; that's not going to change," she said. "You have to understand a deputy is on duty until the moment he pulls into his driveway."
In Pasco County, the ban on off-duty use of agency vehicles affected dozens of detention deputies and civilian employees. Some civilians who respond to crime scenes, such as lawyers and the sheriff's two spokesmen, are still allowed to use staff cars off-duty. Another 50 vehicles, including those driven by the human resources director, a computer trainer, the fiscal director, a radio specialist, civil court processors, several bailiffs and detention staff, were also parked during non-work hours.
The ban doesn't affect deputies who use their cruisers to patrol neighborhoods after hours because that fuel is factored into the service contract, Tobin said.
Source (http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/03/hillsborough-sheriff-tells-employees-cut-fuel-use/?news-breaking)