Police Officers given new list of ultimatums

I have been troubled over this all week since Herr Mayor's edict was deliverd earlier this week. I have talked to my family and friends on the department and was unsure whether or not I could afford to give up my car. My car that I have used for the bennefit of the communuty more so than a personal privelege.

I have stopped off duty countles times to help people stranded. I have taken accident reports because there were no beat cars available. I have backed on duty Officers up on robberies and traffic stops. MY CAR, MY NEIGHBORHOOD'S CAR that keeps the thugs from preying on my neighbors will unfortunately no longer be in my driveway. I appologize to my neighbors and friends and the citizens of our community but I can no longer accept this "privelege" as it will cost me and my family too much in the long run.

I will have to purchase another vehicle. I will have to purchase my own gas and insurance. (At least I can cancel my extra insurance on my police car that I pay for out of my own pocket.) Unfortunately I will no longer provide the deterence to criminals and violators that I and my car provided our community.

In the long run this egriegious assesment to my personal finances by this arrogant mayor will bring a decades long bennefit to our community to an end. I am sorry citizens of Louisville but I cannot afford a 4% pay cut to pay for his mistakes.

Thanks Jerry. You have managed to drive our community down even further.

You will have a very short term bennefit (less than 1 year) of not having to purchase vehicles. My car which is 5 years old already should have lasted at least 3 more years but once it becomes a pool car it will be used up in a matter of months. A brand new car hopefully will last a year. How will you explain it to our community that you have to now spend millions to replace a program that used to save you millions? How can you sleep at night?

I really appreciate the mayor letting me keep my take home car because I am part of a specialty team. Well mayor you can keep your car because I don't want it. I'm drafting a letter tonight and I am turning in my equipment for my specialty unit. I hope my brothers and sisters do the same. Enough is enough. I've grown weary of this nonsence. I've taken 0% or 2% raises for long enough. I'm sick of my insurance being messed with and I am sick of having to worry about this whole car situation. For now on I am coming into work and putting in my 8 hours. I will do it with a smile on my face. I ask my brothers and sisters to do the same. Why volunteer your extra time and give so much extra to a department that keeps taking from us?

"SOLIDARITY" .........."IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO FIGHT THE FIGHT AS ONE" .................FOR ALL OF YOU PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE FENCE..............."ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL"............WE NEED THE HELP OF EVERYONE TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE. "THE GREATER GOOD"

In the in-service training class today the Chief told us we couldn't park for free any more at the parking garage next to the courthouse. Whats up with that !!!!!!!!

Just wanted to voice my personal support for you guys. I'm with a different agency, but the wife is one of you all. I'll be following her out to the district this week to park the car, as neither of us are gonna give them another damn dime.

This nonsense is simply nothing more than a method to try and break you guys down. I've been around for close to nine years, and never have I seen a department as united as you guys are right now. Don't let him split you up...stand together, and perhaps Jerry will finally lose one. He's already losing public support in a major way, as demonstrated by the way the media has stopped their cheerleading for him. Hell, the C-J is even backing away, and for the mayor, that's the same as a death sentence.

So, stand together, and if we all (all the unions in Metro) keep at him, he won't win this fight. I really think we can beat him this time.

Oh, and we need some signs...I'm planning on making something to show support for you guys at home this weekend, but maybe someone should call up Tony Mattingly, and see what he can do. He runs a sign business, and being a recent retiree, might be willing to help.

"SOLIDARITY"...........WHEN WE VOTE TO GIVE THE CARS BACK AND A MEMBER DOESN'T GO WITH THE PLAN, GET OUT OF THE FOP BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED YOU. IF YOU AREN'T WITH US THEN YOU ARE AGAINST US. SIMPLE AS THAT!

On a side note, maybe when the damn car is parked, the following things will stop happening (it's bad, because I end up answering the door, and my wife is the damn cop)

People stopping to ask directions at midnight...Fern Creek isn't anywhere near the skate park, you idiot...(OK, she answered the door that night. Glad she did, as I would've been fired for my answer)

People stopping to ask directions in the middle of the day...there're signs to St. Bernard. Follow them.

People stopping to ask why "we" had to shoot Evan Harlow 10 times with a 12ga shotgun...seriously...a kid did that a couple of months ago

People stopping to tell me there's a wreck down the street..that's great...they can call an on-duty unit, instead of the wife doing work for free.

I'm very excited about the future for us. Once we get these vehicles out of the way, it will be like a tremendous weight lifted off of our shoulders. What will Jerry hang over our heads now? The days of and 2 percent raises are over. It is time that we are paid as much as the surrounding cities our size.

once these cars are parked and there is only a third of the police presence on the street Louisville will turn into DETROIT in no time

CANT WAIT

Is there anyway we can get a show of hands on who is parking thier cars? I know for a fact that atleast 80% of a certain division in the westend are not going to park cars. Mostly the younger guys. If we don't get a large majority of cars parked then jerry will just sell off the ones that are turned in. I'm hearing simmilar stories from other divisions also... Does anyone know any different??

Take home cars are done. Today the Chief gave every indication that the fee will increase. It will increase until it becomes obvious that none of us can afford it. Then they will end it completely, on their terms. At the end of the month enough Officers will turn them in to start the ball rolling. New policies will be made to adjust to those that have to sign out a car. Policies about personal car parking will be made, policies about department equipment will be made, policies for Officers that are on-call will be made, etc.. In a few short months they will figure out what works and what dosen't. Then it will be over. Some of us are in a position in which we depend on that car. The Mayor and Chief do not care. They care about one thing and that is money. Today I heard it from his own mouth. "It's about the money". We can let it end on their terms or we can end it on our terms. A fellow Officer had a good word of advice recently.. if something is causing you stress then remove the source of the stress.

I don't see the issue...The city is slowly getting rid of the take home program. There is nothing anyone can do about it. He raised it a few months ago and he raised it now. Soon he will raise it to a point where no one can afford it and the take home program will be gone. Until then I think it should be up to the individual and the needs of thier family if they keep the car for the near future. I am not going to make my family suffer over this. If we turn in the cars he will just sell them off to auction and he gets what he wants. For me... I'm keeping mine until my family can't afford it

People it's not a matter of parking your cars or not. It is only a matter of when you are going to park them! Do you really think the price is going to hold at it's current level? What do you think is going to happen as soon as gas goes back up to $3.00 a gallon? How about when he doesn't get the amount of money he plans on because 80% of the department turned in their cars? Do you really think he isn't going to pass that on to you? Ask yourself why there isn't a price guarantee with this? How hard would it be for the Mayor to say he won't raise it again? Not that you could believe what he says.... I beg each and everyone of you fence post ridding officers to please please cut your losses now! He will nickel and dime you to death, before you know it you will be paying $200.00 a month for a car you can't even drive home if you live out of the county! You may sell your soul to Devil now for $160. Only to find a few short months from now the price is going up. How much is enough for you? When will you draw the line? Is it really worth standing AGAINST your fellow officers? The bottom line is, the take home program saves the city money and keeps crime down. If we all stand together now and turn them in, how much money is Jerry willing to lose in order to keep punishing us before the public gets fed up with him?

On another note, I was wondering about the possibility of a class action law suit against the city for a little overtime. I for one have never been given a lunch break or any 15 minute breaks. I was under the impression that for each 8 hour shift you were required to allow an employee 20 minutes where they could be away from the work atmosphere and 2 fifteen minute breaks. That would be almost an hour of over time every day for....as long as I can remember. Does anyone know what the rules are on that? Does it apply to us as well? Just a thought...

I keep hearing about how hes just going to raise it again... How about we cross that road when it gets here?

I keep hearing about how hes just going to raise it again... How about we cross that road when it gets here?

I keep hearing about how he is going to raise the price again how about we cross that road when it gets here. Everyone has a price that they would save money with. Its different for everyone. I would save a lot more money by keeping my car...

I am lucky to be able to retire in less than 9 months, however I recognize the MAJORITY of our department has less than four years on.

Thoughts for the "rooks" to consider:

1. INSURANCE is the life blood of your family. That is the fight we need to remember the most. If you don't have a family yet, you will understand when you do.

2. You didn't come on this job to get a car.

3. The Mayor and Chief Bobby W. have MADE this a FINANCIAL issue.

4. Their intention is to get rid of the take home car program. A birdie (actually a major I know) stated that the Mayor did a feasibility study on this less than three months ago. Viewing the cost comparisons... You see what the results must have been.

5. IF we all choose to PARK the cars, then it has to be 100%. Period. Otherwise the strength of our union has been eroded, and your future contracts WILL BE EVEN WEAKER than the BS one we have now.

6. Jon Mellon has finally let his balls drop... the last contract he was talking up the contract positives... No I think he realizes the sad truth.

7. We HAVE OPTIONS: 1 - Park the cars enmasse

2 - Pay the FEE, and hold their feet to the fire on the OT for X-Ray time

3 - Pay the FEE initially and park them the week of Thunder over Louisville

4 - Do a 50% split, divide the union and kill our selves.

8. We CAN NOT lay down, slow down or otherwise punish our citizens... Instead TAKE EVERY REPORT, BS or NOT, TAKE EVERY INCIDENT... If it is an Attempt Burg, make it an ATT BURG and don't let it get amended by a Sgt/Lt/Capt/Major who is fearful of comstat. In fact if someone attempts to STEAL a car, it is a CM, but now PUT BOTH ON THE COMPUTER (use the trip 9 option on RMS to do this) and let them try and explain the truth away.

9. If you seize money, don't hesitate to make it part of the plea negotiation process... Let Keith K and those ilk get their dollars... That way the mayor can't keep raiding that piggy bank.

10. Don't write CITY parking tickets, issue a STATE CITATION... the city gets less revenue.

11. Don't enforce the ORDINANCES, enforce the applicable KRS... the city gets less revenue.

12. BE POLITE, even to the skrotes... kill em with kindness.

13. Remember BOBBY WHITE will be gone in less than two 1/2 years... and maybe the mayor... We pitch in with the IAFF, start building OUR BUCKET of stones (truth)... Get those truths into court... Into ANY PUBLICATION that we can.... Then we run EVERY ADD against the fine fellow from 44 eastover court. Also we should find NAY and ALL of the OLD INTELLIGENCE guys and find out what they knew and know... Their information is golden, I am sure of it.

14. Remember those in command who have "turned"... they will have their day to regret their political choices. This means you Yvette, and you Ozzy, and you Skippy and you Troy... we remember where you came from, you just seem to have forgotten.

15. (and final) We are STRONGER together, regardless of the choice we make... We have to make every action UNIFIED under our union, otherwise YOUR future will be less than shiny.

I have heard a few people say in effect that they are in this for themseves, looking out for number one, and ETC. I will not hold any ill will for whatever any brother (or Sister) chooses to do. That's their business.

I do want to relate a little story if I may. It may apply here, or maybe not. When my class was hired and a date was set to start, we were all contacted and told to stand down. There was a problem hiring the class. Needless to say I was bummed, had quit my job.....you can imagine. It seemed there was a scheme to make all of us pay our own insurance starting with this class. The other Officers on the Department got together and gave a flat out NO to this idea. These guys did not know me, owe me, we weren't members yet, and they had THEIR insurance. Yet they chose to come together and fight for us as one. I can't imagine what it would have been like if these guys hadn't interviened in our behalf. The class ended up being hired a couple of weeks late, and we got our insurance. It would have been very easy to say "screw it" "I gots Mine". I (for one) intend to listen to what the FOP has to say about our course of action. If it is parking the cars, then it's parked......period Whatever it is, I'd say we best all be on the same page, or we are lost. The only thing we have is each other.

The one thing that got me I guess that I can't seem to get around is the Mayor in his press conference. Just looking all profoundly smug saying we were fear mongering and he personally guaranteed that despite what we were saying that there would be no loss in protection from his actions.

Since he knows it can be proven what effect the loss of the take home cars will have on crime. This is a guy that is confident (not just confident..............he KNOWS) that we will cave.

It's this simple, the officers of the louisville police department have never stood together for any lenght of time, what makes this issue any different. I've heard that many officers are choosing to keep the cars and all i can say is you deserve what you get down the road. it's just a car, you can play police when on duty, give up the car.

I hate to see the trouble you guys are going through with the mayor. I retired 5 years ago and always support officers issues that make since. Remember, that when a group stands together they are stronger. speaking to other officers on this issue I have already seen that officers are not going to all do the same thing. for those of you that have many years to go, you will regret not being strong when other benifit issues arise in the future. I blame the FOP on this problem as it is thier job to protect officers issues and findds ways to have a strong membership. However we all know that having a strong membership base has not been a goal of the FOP for many years and that goes for both former city and county lodges. John Mcquire I have a suggestion:::::::get rid of the bar and all the alcohol at the lodge, stop using the lodge and the money as a social club or country club and start acting as a union. until the FOP starts acting as a union it will remain weak for its members.

Am I the only one who noticed that the governor of Kentucky is willing to use his "rainy day fund" to help with the budget crisis, while some other politicians selfishly cling to theirs?

I just received Jerry's "Holiday Wishes" e-mail.

To All Metro Employees:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for

an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress,

non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday,

practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion

of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the

religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice

not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a

fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated

recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but

not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures

whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to

imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the

only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without

regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith

or sexual preference of the wishee.

Here is the one I got from my Beat Partner:

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God Bless America !

I need my car to survive, I work off-duty 3 days of the week. But, I believe if we all unite to park the cars....That will be the only way to beat this mayor that hates us. I will continue my off-duty in my personal car. I will shut the car off and dress warmer. We will finaly get to negoiate raises and other benefits know if he takes the car. I believe the car is going anyway here very soon anyway. Why would i pay money for it if his is going to take it. Ask Dave Ramsey if this is a good situation. He would say no way. I was one on the ones to keep the car, now I've changed my mind. See everyone at the fop meeting Tues 1830 hrs.

FYI

The meeting is at 1700hrs. at the Southwing of the Fairgrounds. It has been requested that everyone try to arrive around 1615hrs. if possible.

As I sit here and read the constant barrage of comments by cops suggesting other cops simply stop performing their duty, I see very very few officers pointing out that not only is this an immature response, but it is unacceptable. You draw paychecks for your job, and as such you are expected to perform it.

having take home cars is a privilege, it just so happens to have a perceived benefit to society as well. There are numerous cities that do not have take home cars and as I have done a little checking, still have a civilized society. You can even have a home that is not protected by a personal army.

I dont so much feel fo you, as I do for this city, as we are all equally getting screwed by the politicians running it. We have only ourselves to blame, unless someone can show me that everyone responsible wasnt duly elected to office through a vote, or at least appointed by someone who was elected.

Coming from one of the people who has stopped on my own time, or risked personal safety to help another citizen, I can attest that you do not need a police car in order to help someone. You really need to stop acting like whiny children and threatening to stop doing anything positive fo this city because you are losing a privilege.

another point, you keep talking about the union contracts that you have, well, look at what benefits the auto workers union contracts have gotten them. Seems to me, all unions are good for is to make sure that the unions have their hands in the cookie jar with management, instead of being the agency of worker protection they were intended to be.

There is a finite limit to the amount of "larceny"a city can afford, be it from the "workers" the "management" or both.

This is not to say that there are not vastly greater sacrifices that abramson and his personal staff couldnt make to help deal with the budget, but whining about what you must do and trying to punish the rest of the city as a result, isnt going to win you any supporters.

IF IT ALLOWED TO BE A INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AND NOT THE FOP DECIDING FOR ALL, MANY WILL HAVE TO LEASE OR PURCHASE A CAR. AT THAT TIME AS AN INDIVIDUAL THE FEE TO LEASE THE POLICE VEHICLE IS CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER ALTURNATIVE.

IF YOU DONT WANT INDIVIDUALS MAKING THE DECISION THAT IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM THEN THE FOP NEEDS TO TAKE THIS DECISION AWAY FROM THE INDIVIDUAL OR IT WILL DIVIDE US.

I DONT WANT TO LOSE THIS BENIFIT BUT I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR IT EITHER.

THE LAWSUIT OR UNFAIR LABOR GREVENCE SHOULD REVERSE THIS ANYWAY SO WE MAY NEED TO STICK IT OUT SO IT IS NOT LOST IN THE END.

JUST THINK THINGS THRU AND DONT INNER FIGHT WITH THOSE THAT MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION THAT MAKES THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE SENSE TO THEM.

I must be the happiest S.O.B. here, I'm getting a $60.00 pay raise starting in Janurary and jerry can't touch it, lololol.

I received information that and e mail was sent out by Col. Riggs asking to meet with all Maj. Crimes units on Monday. I say we BOYCOTT this meeting. What can he possibly say that hasn't already been said?? Show him we don't agree and that the Chief's attempt to bully us through the "nice guy" isn't going to be tolerated!!!!!

If 100% of the Officers give up the take home cars, what have we gained? Nothing, we lost our take home cars and we will still be making 20 thousand dollars less than EVERY CITY OUR SIZE!! Or will Jerry give us a 20% raise? NOTTTTTTT

KEEP YOUR CAR!

I LOVE YOU MAN I LOVE VELCRO AND I LOVE MY ULTIMA!!!!

Man, and I thought our Mayor, Jim Doucheberry, was bad.

Here's what you need to do: Find out who is giving back their car. Coordinate so that all of you drive your cars downtown at a prearranged time when there is very little traffic (say 0400 or so.) Park your cars in the middle of the street in the most inconvenient intersection you can find with the doors locked, engines off, but with the lightbars and sirens on. (Don't worry about the batteries. Screw 'em.) Get creative with the parking, making sure that cars are parked touching one another (lightly) in such a way as to make towing them nearly impossible.Take your keys, without any identifying number tags attached to them, and have everyone dump the loose keys in barrel. Have somebody standing by to weld the barrel shut once all the keys are in. Walk away.

ULTIMA INSURANCE=49.00 A MONTH

GAS FOR THE ULTIMA=63.00 A MONTH

OIL CHANGE=OH WAIT IT LEAKS SO I DON'T CHANGE IT

2 QUARTS OF OIL FOR LEAKY ULTIMA=4.19 A MONTH

NOT GETTING SHOT AT IN THE ULTIMA...WAIT THERE WAS THAT ONE TIME MY WIFES FATHER CAUGHT US BEFORE WE WERE MARRIED=PRICELESS

RIDIN IN "ULTIMA" STYLE=PRICELESS

NOT PAYING 30-160 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR SOMEONE ELSES MISTAKES=...WELL I GUESS 30-160 DOLLARS A MONTH.

BEING ABLE TO GO STRAIGHT TO WORK FROM BULLITT COUNTY INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT THE COUNTY LINE GETTING MY BIG BUT OUT OF THE "WAY COOL" ULTIMA AND TRANSFERING MY GINORMOUS LUNCHBOX AND STUFF=20 MORE MINUTES WITH THE FAMILY

NOT HAVING TO BUY VELCRO FOR MY MDT= -3.99 A MONTH

YOU TALLY IT UP DAVE MY HEAD HURTS...PARK EM SELL EM I DON'T CARE U CAN'T TOUCH MY ULTIMA VELCRO HATERS

WORD TO YOUR KINFOLK,

VELCRO

SUP 5.0, ME AND MINES BEEN WAITIN 4 DIS DAY. SOON AS DEM PIGSTYES IS PARKED.WE GOIN DO SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPIN OVES R OWN. WE'S GONNA RUN DIS CITY IT NOT GONNA B LOUISVILLE IT GONNA BE B THUGAVILLE. GIVE DA CITY MO MONEY SO'S I GOTS MO TO TAKE.

COOL

JOHHNY SMITH A.K.A. "WET NADS"

HERES AN IDEA....FOR THOSE OF YOU "OFFICERS" WHO CARE NOTHING ABOUT YOUR BROTHER BESIDE YOU AND WANT TO KEEP THAT MAYORS CAR.. I SAY TO ALL THOSE OFFICERS RUNNING OFF DUTY.. DONT HIRE THEM TO WORK IT...FIND OUT WHO ALL THE OFFICERS ARE THAT KEEP EM AND ERASE THEM FROM YOUR PHONE AND EMAIL, IF THEY WANT THE CAR SO BAD LET JERRY GIVE THEM OFF DUTY TO WORK. INSTEAD GIVE THE WORK TO THOSE WHO STAND STONG TOGETHER!!!!

PARK THE CARS, SEE YOU ON THE 16TH

In case some of you haven't figured it out yet, there are some weasels and plants form the Mayor's and Chief's Office that like to come here and plant some false info, appeals etc... just to try to make us look bad to the public that enjoy's this site also.

They will threaten sometimes, don't bite. Don't respond to their level. Use the contact section and advise the admin. They can track the IP and ban future posts by these little worms.

Hey VELCRO you like my purple letters?

It's making me sick in my stomach that people are going to pay this crook to keep their car. Where is your integrity? I can understand new guys wanting the car but when guys who have 20 in and they're saying they're going to pay is just ignorant. If you give this thief your money you have no right to complain about anything because you're now part of the problem. All this proves is that some of you actually do have a price. So if you're ok with being pimped out by the biggest crook in louisville then so be it but don't expect the rest of us to have any respect for you.

This is my humble opinion. Now i support anyone who is turning in there car. But the fact is that there are some of us for many reasons, divorce, courtesy apartments, or credit issues , etc. that need a little linger than a couple weeks to make huge arrangements to turn the car in . I know that there are some that without the car will have a huge difficulty surviving. So my suggestion is simply this. If you are in a position to turn in your car now by all means do it. Give time for others in other situations to make arrangements. I think the more realistic long term goal is for the Department to be Take-home-car free by the time the 2010 negotiations start so the Mayor cannot use it anymore. SO if you can do it now and allow a little more time for others to get it done. And for heavens sake back eachother up out there , don't let someone get hurt or killed over this that is insane.

First let me apologize for the length of this post but there is a point. In roll call the other day the major said that the cut to the departments budget is $2.7 million. If 1000 people pay the 100/mon that is $1.2 million add in the 440 (dept number) for off duty ($60x440x12months = $316,800) it is now up to $1.5168 million or 1,516,800 from our pockets. That leaves the department to come up with $1,183,200. Part of this will come from the civillian (departments words) staff that will is forced to take the furlough days. I am not sure of the figure but lets say $200,000, now we are down to $983,200 the department must cut. If UPS was loosing money, would they charge the employees to park at work to make up the short fall? The cuts, according to the major, are to come from delayed technology upgrades (bet it isn't ILEADS) and facility improvements. Does anyone know of any planned improvements to the districts. The last time improvements were needed and talked about that I know of, the 6th up and moved. Lets not forget the mayors own study right after merger to determine how the department should move forward. In this study (by his choosing of timeing and company) it stated that for the area we patrol and the population size we serve there should be 12 police districts to provide effective coverage and the minimum should be ten. We are now at eight due to the mayor cutting 2 districts for monetary reasons. This is in no small part to the fact that the biggest line item in the departments budget is the operating cost to maintain and staff a district. We have gone in the opposite direction of his own study. We pay a price for this by not having backup as close and a higher run volume ( cited in a study of comperable cities recently). This creates a bigger risk for us all. The people of this community pay the price of longer waits for us when they call and a higher crime rate. If you had 100 men to defend 100 acres from attack you would loose easily but 100 men defending 25acres gives you a fighting chance. So when the mayor and chief say we are only down 60-70 officers remember they are counting probationary officers (ride with an training officer and don't count in the districts since they can't be by themselves) and recruits still in the academy who haven't hit the street. Early last year the news did report that crime has gone up for several years (double digits in most catagories) and asked the mayor if the chief is right for the job. The mayor deferred to the chief basically. The chief stated that if crime was up then the Officer should try to tell the citizens that things are going well because of the positive image (saw it on Fox41 Jan or Feb 07 I think). Sorry but that violates departmental policy on being honest. A friend of mine told me that when he went through inservice, the chief said that the take home cars were going away, it was just a matter of time. The department wasn't replacing cars at the same rate as they were being taken out of service. When I went through in service in October, the chief was asked about the 30/60 per month and he said that there was an agreement coming in the next week or so with the FOP that would lock the 30/60 in for the rest of this contract. Guess not. In closing the mayor and chief do not care about us or the community, why are all of the highest ranking department heads except fire chief from out of town. Answer, if you are not from hear then you don't care about the people. Your only concerne is how to keep the guy who gave you your job happy so you can put it on your resume. After all that has been said in this post and others, if you plan to keep your car you are blind and ignorant. The mayor and chief don't care about you as an Officer or person and beyond claiming what they did for the community on paper for their egos, they don't care about the citizens either. So close your eyes, keep your car, hold your breath and wish for the best. But as my grandfather used to say (retired LPD) wish in one hand and crap in the other, see which one gets full.

Everybody stop and think for just a second. The Mayor and Chief want us to keep our cars, if they didn't they would have already pulled them. They came out strong with the first offer and we balked. The Chief stated how dissappointed he was and his/mayors deadline on a decision came and went. They have made a second run at us and so far we haven't caved in. They don't want the cars back, they can't afford to get them back. They have to provide a secure area to store equipment for each Officer. They have to spend the money through IT to get the MDTs user friendly for rotating officers in the cars and they have the collateral damage to others by the cars being turned in. We need to continue to stick together on this and tell them they can have the cars, They don't want them.

For those of you who say they cant give up the cars because of money. Here are some facts and personal stories. I drive 14 miles round trip to work and my personal car gets 25mpg.It is a 98 Eclipse If you work 5 days a week that is 260 days of driving to work per year. So 260 x 14= 3640 miles driving to work and back. divide this by 25mpg to get 146 gallons of gas used a year. At $2 a gallon that is $292 to drive to and from work a year. If you use the mpg for a crown vic 14mpg (sticker mpg) then it would cost the city only $520 per year to take the car to and from work.This is from 14miles round trip 2 dollars of gas times 260 days. Insurance-- citizens of Louisville the city is self insured and does not pay insurance, just don't ask Kerry Richardson. Oil changes, 1 every 4000 miles at 20k miles (on duty and off duty mileage) per year at what your mechanic gets paid ($20/hr for argument) is $100. Total for the city is $620. SO if an officer lives out of county and drives 40 miles round trip that would be 10400 miles per year divided by 14 mpg for 742 gallons used in a year. At 2 dollars a gallon that is$1484 per year in gas plus $100 for oil changes is $1584. And Jerry is only asking for $1200-$1920 per year. That is the car. This summer I will ride my motorcycle. It gets 50to 60 mpg. The insurance on both of my personal vehicles is $43 a month or $516 a year. I have DOUBLE the state mins on both and carry DOUBLE the state mins on uninsured and under insured plus on the bike I carry the extra pedestrian insurance coverage. So for some one who makes a long commute I can see where you would opt for the 100 a month. But this is short term thinking. we have been given clues about how long this crisis will last and how it will get worse. That just means price increase. If Jerry takes enough heat he will put the cars back into play at a cheaper rate and claim the crisis is over. It might take a while but he thinks long term so should we. As a former military member the reasons I hear most are from people who want to keep the cars are they couldn't afford a new car on their salary but knew they would get a car from the department and then would be able to afford it because they weren't driving it. Well how dumb is it to have a car and make payments around $300 a month but not drive it. Sell the car your backwards in monetary thinking. Car goes down in value but $150 car payment and $150 into IRA goes up and both are yours. As far as family needs there are no justifications to cut your family off. But I do know of some who only have their city car and the wifes car. Once again short term thinking. The money saved on a car payment and insurance should be put to retirement or kids college fund not the bigger house in the right neighborhood. As an enlisted man i was able to buy groceries, pay rent, electric, cable , gas, phone and even a few nights out with the wife on $890 a month before taxes. It wasn't the best but it was fun while it lasted. I even managed to live in a house on the beach in Hawaii on less than 36000 a year. Its called roommates. So if a courtesy apartment is your reason because of reduced rent for a few years then think of someone in your academy class and pitch in together. Most landlords love military and police because we have a steady check and a better character. I did it and save over 15,000 in one year making 36,000 my IRA loves me. By the way, using the same strategy I have save enough to buy all my military time (hazardous) bought a house, bought the car I OWN FOR CASH and MY BIKE FOR CASH. I don't drive my car off duty very much since I live 2 miles from what i NEED. If I do got out then I drive my OWN car and do what I want. Short term keep the car, pay a little. Long term pay a lot.

Anyone who would dare to suggest that officers are whining about this so-called privilege needs to wake up. You are the management and the politician; you cannot fool the readers.

Abrahamson, a wealthy or perhaps even a millionaire, gives up 10% of his high-end six figure salary and the media calls it sacrifice. To people like him and his posse, all very wealthy individuals, 10% is pocket change. To someone making 40-50 thousand a year, and having been constantly UNDERPAID and given mediocre raises way below the rate of inflation, 10% is a small fortune. Most Americans, even McCain's supporters, saw through McCain's gimmick of declaring a "Gas Tax Holiday," something that would have absolutely no long-term benefit or offer any significant relief. Yet, does no see that this "pay cut" is nothing but a a political gimmick?

And why isn't the media jumping all over the fact that the Mayor is so defensive about the city's finances? If a government is truly democratic, then it must also be completely transparent. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear, right?

Lastly, this has never been a matter of money. It is a matter of survival. Those who would consider paying the $100-$160 are setting themselves up for certain failure in the very near future. Why? Because that amount WILL increase. Because accepting it WILL give the Mayor continued leverage to increase other fees, such as healthcare. And, most importantly, because it will divide the FOP. Please heed this: we are at a cross roads. We can either stand up to him, even if at a personal cost, and completely transform how this government does business with us, or we can surrender and jeopardize our very existence. That, my friends, is not fear tactic; it's reality. We give in to this, and we're done. We will single handedly undermine the FOP's ability to bargain for us, and we will create a precedence that will have national repercussions. Other police agencies are looking at us right now, knowing that what we do will either benefit them or hinder their lives as well. Let us not fail them, or, more importantly, fail the officers that will walk the path we now trail for them.

Sever the invisible noose that has been around our necks! Freedom!

Anyone who would dare to suggest that officers are whining about this so-called privilege needs to wake up. You are the management and the politician; you cannot fool the readers.

Abrahamson, a wealthy or perhaps even a millionaire, gives up 10% of his high-end six figure salary and the media calls it sacrifice. To people like him and his posse, all very wealthy individuals, 10% is pocket change. To someone making 40-50 thousand a year, and having been constantly UNDERPAID and given mediocre raises way below the rate of inflation, 10% is a small fortune. Most Americans, even McCain's supporters, saw through McCain's gimmick of declaring a "Gas Tax Holiday," something that would have absolutely no long-term benefit or offer any significant relief. Yet, does no see that this "pay cut" is nothing but a a political gimmick?

And why isn't the media jumping all over the fact that the Mayor is so defensive about the city's finances? If a government is truly democratic, then it must also be completely transparent. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear, right?

Lastly, this has never been a matter of money. It is a matter of survival. Those who would consider paying the $100-$160 are setting themselves up for certain failure in the very near future. Why? Because that amount WILL increase. Because accepting it WILL give the Mayor continued leverage to increase other fees, such as healthcare. And, most importantly, because it will divide the FOP. Please heed this: we are at a cross roads. We can either stand up to him, even if at a personal cost, and completely transform how this government does business with us, or we can surrender and jeopardize our very existence. That, my friends, is not fear tactic; it's reality. We give in to this, and we're done. We will single handedly undermine the FOP's ability to bargain for us, and we will create a precedence that will have national repercussions. Other police agencies are looking at us right now, knowing that what we do will either benefit them or hinder their lives as well. Let us not fail them, or, more importantly, fail the officers that will walk the path we now trail for them.

Sever the invisible noose that has been around our necks! Freedom!

I work for a police agency. I have family in Metro Government. I understand how you all feel. I do. I am suffering right along with you, trust me. But let me tell you why SOME people are not.

Saturday night my mother and I went to Hobby Lobby on Outer Loop. It was about 19:00... and as we were leaving I saw an LMPD car in the lot. I saw the OFF DUTY officer with a female, whom I will assume was a wife or girlfriend, exit the store, get into the MARKED car in their PLAIN clothes. They were carrying bags from the store. This person driving was driving the car for personal use. Now I, as a "civilian police worker" understand that maybe he had just come from something work related. Maybe he had a meeting. Maybe his pov was temporarily out of service, and he had to use the department marked vehicle. MAYBE he thinks "screw the Mayor. I'll drive it anyway while I can..." I get all of that. I really don't care what anyone drives or why. But I want to stress to each and everyone of you, THE COMMUNITY IS PAYING ATTENTION. This is why some people are siding with the Mayor. Be mindful of what you are driving and when, because even though I can see why there may have possibly been a reason or extenuating circumstances as to why the above mentioned officer was driving his marked unit for personal shopping use, others may not.

-DJ

I work for a police agency. I have family in Metro Government. I understand how you all feel. I do. I am suffering right along with you, trust me. But let me tell you why SOME people are not.

Saturday night my mother and I went to Hobby Lobby on Outer Loop. It was about 19:00... and as we were leaving I saw an LMPD car in the lot. I saw the OFF DUTY officer with a female, whom I will assume was a wife or girlfriend, exit the store, get into the MARKED car in their PLAIN clothes. They were carrying bags from the store. This person driving was driving the car for personal use. Now I, as a "civilian police worker" understand that maybe he had just come from something work related. Maybe he had a meeting. Maybe his pov was temporarily out of service, and he had to use the department marked vehicle. MAYBE he thinks "screw the Mayor. I'll drive it anyway while I can..." I get all of that. I really don't care what anyone drives or why. But I want to stress to each and everyone of you, THE COMMUNITY IS PAYING ATTENTION. This is why some people are siding with the Mayor. Be mindful of what you are driving and when, because even though I can see why there may have possibly been a reason or extenuating circumstances as to why the above mentioned officer was driving his marked unit for personal shopping use, others may not.

-in your favor, not the MAYOR....

I am a state worker. I too am in fear of having to take a few un paid days off. I make less than most of the offficers on this forum. I make about 22,000 a year and I am a single parent. of 4. I understand how you feel about the car situation , however, let me tell you my situation and maybe it will give you some insight.

I do not put my life on the line even though my job is very important.. I do not have to work over time and not get paid for it. I work m-f and at my ending time I leave. So, you have it more difficulr for sure. Noone stops me on the road for help. etc... The car situation you are facing is a tough call. I have a car, I have a small car payment, I have insurnace which kils me each month. I hav to pay for my gas and I drive 52 miles round trip to work every day. I have to pay for any work that needs to be done on my automobile. It can get costly. I have other bills like you all , house, etc, plus kids to take care of. So, if you keep your police car, then you wont have the expense of insurnace, gas, work if its needed on it, a car payment. Yes, youwill be paying some money for those things but my insurnace is 165 a month and gas for me when its high is about 450 a month. So, that is one way of looking at it from the regular persons point of few. It may cost you some money to "rent " you car than owning. So do you want to rent ?

I think you need to look at it in a few ways. While you are still able to drive the policecar see what you can afford. Will it cost you more to own your own or drive a police car?.You only know what will benefit you. I also see it that if the mayor does away with the program than you might as well get you something to drive to work and around town, and either park it now or enjoy the car while you can.But loook at it like this will you be paying to "rent" something each month to never have it yours? Its like renting a house verses owning. Why waste the money when you can own.

So , what I am saying is this .It has to be up to you. Yes it would be nice for you all to send a message to the Mayor and park them but you have to do what is best for you and your family no matter what others think. I think it is very wrong of the mayor to make you decide this but trust your heart and you will know what is the right thing to do. If you are a praying person then God will tell you what you need to do.

I meant to tell you all this also. I only get a 1% raise each year with the state and althought my children wont have but 4 presents under the tree they will be happy with that!!!!! So do what you feel is best for YOU, NOT JERRY, NOT THE F.O.P. NOT YOUR BUDDY, BUT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!!!!!!!THEY WILL BE THE ONES WHO COUNT IN THE END . YOU WONT BE ON THE DEPARTMENT FOREVER. ONE DAY YOUWILL RETIRE......

Obviously the Citizens are not aware of everything we have been through with this mayor since the merger. I vote that we make a 30 minute infomercial and point out to the public what is REALLY going on. I know it would be difficult to get it on one of the news stations here but think about it.......it would cause some controversy and the media loves controversy! I don't know the cost but I would throw in some money for the cause! We would have to get someone (or a couple people) well spoken (sorry John) and make it informative and INTERESTING! Signs don't work because they don't say much TV talks!

What about the detectives that work downtown and have no where to park their cars? I heard that the Mayor won't let them park their cars in the garage for free because they already have a police car? What are they supposed to do? Just curious!

Interestingly enough as I read the paper today there wasn't much about anything on the budget and financial crisis that Abramson is proclaiming. There was an article and reading the entire bit twice I realized that there still is no finacial crisis. There is a projected one. They are using computer formulas now much as they used to use ouija boards in the past.

Most of the projection relies on jobs. Well Mr. Mayor you should be satisfied because you chased many jobs away over the years. I looked closely at the forum section and didn't see any postings about this. Once again we can rely on the good ol' CJ to cover up for their buddy abramson. (intentional lower case)

I know there are a lot of peope out there that can see this fool who has spent money on lavish items and now he has the audacity to cry wolf and that employees must pay to allow him to continue eating cake?

Abramson wants me to pay 4% of my salary so I can protect the community in my spare time - in an unpaid status. He wants to guilt me into abandoning my neighbors over my personal greed. I like my neighbors and they like me and my car in our neighborhood, but none so far nobody has shown up to pay the fee for me on a month to month basis. Do you know why? BECAUSE THE ALREADY DO! They pay taxes and so do we. These cars are paid for already by our community and should therfore stay in our community without Abramson trying to say they are a luxury ticket item.

Just out of curiosity. Has anyone noticed that our Governor has also said we have a finacial crisis? Has anyone noticed that to combat it he is going to take steps and one of them being dipping into the Commonwealth's rainy day fund? Lastly, have you seen dire warnings or cutbacks from any other major city in Kentucky or is it just Louisville that has been so mismanaged that our mayor has to pass the hat at gunpoint to his employees?

Off duty work is going to be the next item city hall is going to use to get more money off our backs.

Something is in the works because the Chief has made a couple references to it and the millionaires who control off duty jobs.

I bet they will charge companies $35 hr and pay you $20 hr for the privilege of working off duty for them. They may even create an ordinance to make other city officers (Jtown, Shively, St Mathews) pay when working in Louisville Metro jurisdiction.

Other officers will be forced to get some kind of special license or permit through the private security licensing office.

I am turning the car in this week because I cannot afford it and refuse to have it continually shoved down my throat. I have NO PLACE in my division to put my required gear (we don't even have small high school style lockers). Do I leave it at home and get into trouble b/c I don't have it? Do I leave it in the 'roll-call' room where it will not stay, and again, get in trouble? I will have to drive back to the station to do every ILEADS report b/c I will no longer have an MDT - and wow, that's at least 15 miles round trip per report. ANYONE WANT TO FIGURE OUT THE COST OF THAT GAS AND NEEDLESS TIME OFF THE STREET? Of course not - b/c no one cares that we will all be at the station waiting in line for computers/reports while someone 10 miles away (where we are supposed to be) needs our help either. I won't be able to make arrests or write tickets anymore and here is why - Jerry and the Puppet have already said we will not be allowed to drive our work vehicles to court (where we were subpoened to go b/c of WORK)! I cannot afford to, and refuse to go to court for free - paying for gas and parking when I should be home taking care of my children or sleeping. My average day is 12 hrs, by the way: work/waiting for court/going to court/finally driving home - which includes working a wreck or giving someone, who refused to look at their gas gage, a ride home. Not to many citizens would deal with that schedule while only getting paid for 8 hrs and a small court pay. The alternative is to do your job, not go to court, and be held in contempt and arrested, while the criminal's charges are dismissed b/c you are a no-show. Forrest Gump could even see how this is no good for the community. We could have saved taxpayer's money by not spending millions on a reporting system that we all hate/doesn't work for crap/and wastes huge amounts of time. ILEADS is about as useful as toothbrushes for ducks..............but then again the taxpayers just bought $80,000.00 worth of ornate bicycle racks and trash can holders for downtown. For all the decent, but mislead citizens reading this that don't live downtown - JERRY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU. JERRY cares about JERRY. PARK 'EM OR PUNK OUT.

Straight outta lo'cash kickin back in da' Ultima w/ Velcro

I have friends on Shively, Audobon, St. Matthews and J-Town. I asked if needed could I borrow their cars for off-duty. They said no problem as long as I quit putting VELCRO over everything. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

PARK EM

On a lighter note I got my M.D.T. to work by 0100 hrs this morning 2 hrs is my new best time.. I did 3 FI's in 1 hr..man it's getting better.

I hate to be the one to paint a bleak picture but we are naive to think that we are going to win by parking the cars. Don't get me wrong I am parking mine. What I have seen on here have been ideas that seem rushed and unthought-out. The mayor could give a crap if we park the cars. He will save the same if not more by the people parking them in gas and maitenence alone. I do agree we may be able to bargin for more when this next contract comes up...maybe not. I also hear that there will be a public outcry once "off-duty" officers are unable to take accident reports and help stranded motorist. Don't get me worng we do the public a great service by doing this but on the whole I don't think that the average joe will care or not that we parked our cars. For myself I am going to take a great hit on my income by parking my car. My family may even suffer a little for it also. I am only parking it because I do what my union as a whole does. I know a lot of other people are going to hurt much more than I though. I don't think we need to be angry at the people who decide to keep thier cars because a lot have to go and buy a car get insurance and pay for gas. For some families this is the difference between paying an important bill or not. It will be soon enough...most likley the start of the new fiscal year...when Jerry will raise the price again...maybe not. For those whom take home cars save them and thier families money should not feel ashamed to keep cars. When he raises the price again then one can reconsider and make a choice at that time. Until then lets think about what we are getting into and consider the possibility of a slippery slide.

Cant everyone see!!! This is a tactic to split us up. If we stand together and turn the cars in we win. Everybody is taking a hit. Some more than others but where is the support for us as a whole instead of thinking of just oneself. I am all for taking care of your family thats why we need to stay united and stay with what we voted for in the first place. Why is this different. If you dont think it will go up tell me how you know. Its went up to take our raise. Why wont the Mayor turn over the bugdet records? What are the council members doing? They should quit with 26 council persons and only 8 police divisions. This is a hostile work enviroment if I ever saw one. When push comes to shove, sometimes we have to shove back.

I think some of you all have forgot that we took a vote at the emergency fop meeting a couple weeks ago. The majority voted to park the cars. A few of you are going to be in for a rude awakening at the meeting tuesday when you find out what you're going to have to do to keep your car. Just remember that Metro Government can not ink seperate contracts with individual officers. They must go through your union and your union took a vote to park the cars.

When I got hired 9 years ago it was with the LPD and you had to wait about 3 years before you got a take-home vehicle. During that waiting period I came to work every day, did my job, went to court and then went home. And when I was coming from/to home I never got flagged down for directions or take an accident or stop a violator. When I got off probation I worked off-duy in my POV and guess what ? I survived. Sure I wished I got a car straight out of the Academy like the County did, but I knew I was'nt getting a take home right away when I applied. I applied because I wanted to be the Police, not so I could have a car to drive. This may be a blessing to some because if you don't have to go work that off-duty, or get delayed coming home because you're in a marked car then that is more time you can spend with your family. To be honest, it was alot less stressful without that take-home car.

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, and are working 20 hours a month offf duty, plus court, plus an overtme detail here and there, ...you're an IDIOT!! You are living beyond your means Big Time!What are you going to do when you get hurt at work and can't work off duty/court/overtime? You think Jerry is going to care? HELL NO!

Trust me on this one, 'cause I WAS THIS IDIOT!! I got hurt at work, and have been off for several weeks. No court pay, no off duty, no overtime details. Oh, yeah, NO POLICE CAR!! If you're in this shape AND have no p.o.v. you're an even bigger idiot.

What happened? I survived. The belt got tightened, got rid of what I could and am making do. I will never get back into that shape again.

If your kids are in private school, if your wife is staying home, if your mortgage is way more than you ever thought you would get, if that boat in your garage....etc, etc, etc, - what's going to happen when you're hurt and can't make the extra money? You need to take stock of your life and your finances.

Someone else said it best- these cars are like crack. Until you get free from the habit, you won't realize how good it will be. You do not need a take home car. Do not let Jerry get away with it anymore. Free yourself from the addiction. Turn the car in.

The former city and county FOP's made tremendous advances in benifits because they stood together as a union. metro officers just aren't that way. If you don't agree just look back over the past couple years and look at you gains and losses. I've been retired for 15 years and I'm so glad I'm not in this mess. Regardless of the car issue and it's end results, the union must stay strong and support each other to be effective. You officers with many years left until you retire must have a strong FOP or your retire will only move more in the direction of the average "JOE" (say 62 Years of age) Good Luck.

here is a heads up for all the people who need the mayors car. the FOP is checking into forcing everyone to turn in the car. the lawyers are looking into

1) the city can not negotiate with individual members. the FOP is the negotiating unit

2) the officers can not negotiate with the city ( same reason)

you can verify this through the FOP. i am telling every one this because if you were planning on keeping the car you must make other plans quickly. on a side note i am grateful to the FOP for doing this because this issue was splitting us apart. i also believe turning in the cars will hurt the city more than it will hurt us. remember if you must have the car to make ends meet you may consider looking for a higher paying job. i'm giving you a heads up so you will be prepared. there will be no choice the cars will be turned in. all of them!

WITHOUT SACRIFICE THERE CAN BE NO GLORY.

I support the Police but this 'force the members' issue is sad. Who is threatening more, Abramson, White, or the FOP. This is a serious business decision and I doubt there will be any MBA's in that crowd at the fairgrounds on Tuesday. Some of you are just downright scary. Where were you when we merged and the County stood still and then some for years? Don't preach sacrifice to me, it rings pretty hollow. A lot of City Police ( many I consider friends and am glad to have met them ) make the money that they do today because of the merger and our forced sacrifice. I hope that I am wrong, but friendships will be destroyed by the time this issue is settled.

If we turn the cars in, no matter what secret agenda the mayor or the chief have, we know that come this July when his reckless spending and buddy system has got him in another jam he wont be able to take anything more from us. The same thing goes for the negotiations on the next contract, he wont be able to dangle those cars in front of us in order to get us to accept less than we want. We can hold our heads up and tell the tax payers we have given all we can give i.e. 0% and 2% raises, sold the helicopter, insurance has gone up, given up equipment (cars), understaffed beats, and we can tell them we still make less money than police in other cities this size, all because king jerry has a spending problem. How can he combat that, that looser of a politician will have to acknowledge its all true. Give them back, who cares if they sell them or turn them into bike racks once we don't have them anymore, tell king jerry that he doesn't have a leash on us anymore. He's an idiot!!

Things that should never be said are being said in some of these responses. People are stating that they will not back someone up just because they are thinking of keeping their car. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! This is a hot topic and everyone has a stake in it. but somethings should not be said. It has always been us against them on the streets and it should stay that way. I know I have only been doing this job for a few years and some may say that because of this I don't know what I am talking about. But this is one thing that I know for a fact....what ever our personel differences may be, we are on one side of the line, and the bad guys are on the other. Differences should be left at the division and once on the street a united front should be shown.

To those who don't have a civilian car; to go ahead and park now and purchase one would save you the money you will be spending in the future, now. The monthly fee will inevitably go up, there is no contract or guarantees. When the fee makes it impractical to keep the car sometime in the next 2 years it would have been cheaper to have already purchased a vehicle and parked the car.

We've never stood entirely united on one issue. We as an FOP need to start sticking together rather than remaining a weak and ineffective body of individuals. United now and in the future we can get things done. Just look at the support we have rallied already--we've finally united and along with other unions have begun to show a little bit of clout! If police officers can remain united imagine what could be accomplished in the future as far as insurance and contract negotiations go. If we divide ourselves and fall apart on this issue all future issues will be lost and we will remain ineffective and weak.

To those who don't have a civilian car; to go ahead and park now and purchase one would save you the money you will be spending in the future, now. The monthly fee will inevitably go up, there is no contract or guarantees. When the fee makes it impractical to keep the car sometime in the next 2 years it would have been cheaper to have already purchased a vehicle and parked the car.

We've never stood entirely united on one issue. We as an FOP need to start sticking together rather than remaining a weak and ineffective body of individuals. United now and in the future we can get things done. Just look at the support we have rallied already--we've finally united and along with other unions have begun to show a little bit of clout! If police officers can remain united imagine what could be accomplished in the future as far as insurance and contract negotiations go. If we divide ourselves and fall apart on this issue all future issues will be lost and we will remain ineffective and weak.

To those who don't have a civilian car; to go ahead and park now and purchase one would save you the money you will be spending in the future, now. The monthly fee will inevitably go up, there is no contract or guarantees. When the fee makes it impractical to keep the car sometime in the next 2 years it would have been cheaper to have already purchased a vehicle and parked the car.

We've never stood entirely united on one issue. We as an FOP need to start sticking together rather than remaining a weak and ineffective body of individuals. United now and in the future we can get things done. Just look at the support we have rallied already--we've finally united and along with other unions have begun to show a little bit of clout! If police officers can remain united imagine what could be accomplished in the future as far as insurance and contract negotiations go. If we divide ourselves and fall apart on this issue all future issues will be lost and we will remain ineffective and weak.