Officers given 7 days to decide on take home cars

The increased fees are expected to save the city about $110,000 a month

I keep reading and hearing the above statement but the city/mayor/chief are not SAVING money, they are stealing it from us. Saving money would require something like cutting wasteful spending. Making police officers pay $1200 at least a year is stealing. And who among us thinks once this supposed crisis is over that the fee will be dropped? Yeah, right.

So our Douchebag Chief and Mayor have yet to satisfactorily answer any questions about the what they will do with the take home car program when Officers decide to opt out. Sorry, but it is cheaper for me to drive my own car to work rather than pay to drive a couple of miles each way and pay $100 bucks.

Just what am I going to do with all the issued equipment though? Hmmmm... Am I going to take transfer it to my own car every day? Am I going to use my own gas to haul it around? I don't think so for any of those. They still haven't answered thos questions.

MDT, Peper Ball Gun, Shotgun, CIT Shotgun, Camera, Binoculars, flashlight, tape recorder, all the different paperwork, broom, safety vest, bls gear.... I think you are getting the picture. I will have to store this stuff at the division now. Where???? Darned if it won;t take me 45 minutes or so at the begining of every shift and another 45 minutes at the end of every shift. So much for the safety of our coommunity.

This is about the thieving mayor stealing money and then needing to cover it up by getting some from other sources. He still hasn't been challenged by the council or anyone else.

It is going to get a lot worse people.

If our FOP PRESIDENT, if that what you want to call him, had any backbone, and would listen that he sucks on the when speaking to the media. It makes us sound like a bunch of idiots. He sounds like that he has something shoved in his mouth you would have gotten at "Connections." Please John get a person who can communicate better! Stop fighting with each other because it was the most pathetic thing I ever saw the other night. Does anyone know if we can IMPEACH our FOP President?

If the vehicles do become a bargaining issue, the Mayor will just offer less on pay/benefits in exchange for the vehicles. No matter what happens in court, the Mayor will get his original amount of $210 (or more) from all officers if we keep them. If the vehicles are worth $160 a month, help the community and give it back. If you haven't noticed, we are not winning the public support. With the chiefs office making statements that $100 a month is reasonable for gas, insurance, and maintenance, the average uninformed couch potato will agree.

A direct quote from the Courier-Journel, "The increased fees are expected to save the city about $110,000 a month." It will not be saving money, they will making a profit from all of our paychecks. Lets all get together and save metro Louisville by turning the vehicles in. This will never end in the favor of police officers until we stick together and give back the vehicles.

Doesn't anybody in the media think to ask about lower gas prices? These fees were initially instated because gas was over $4 a gallon and it was costing the city x amount of dollars. It's been below $2 for months and yet we are now being asked to pay MORE for the car fee. So now, they are saving x amount of dollars from lower gas prices AND getting x amount of EXTRA dollars from us with this raised fee. You don't have to be a genius to know this just simply doesn't add up.

Once again the Chief hits us with yet another unfair labor practice. Let's force Officers to decide in 7 days waht can affect ehm the rest of their career. Let's force them to make a rash or quick decision with a quick deadline as opposed to waiting until at least the hearing in February.

It will cost me more to turn in the car right now, but it will cost you and the taxpayers of Louisville a whole lot more in the long run. Do you honestly expect to get any work out of anyone? Morale has never been a factor for you and you have been a fool to ignore one of the only things you could control to make this Department better.

That is what you get when you have a petty time server that is here only for the money and not for the community at the helm. Abramson has surrounded himself with people like you that aren't from around here and don't give a damn whether we sink or swim.

I will park my car. The first thing I will do is put my "JERRY ABRAMSON SUCKS" bumper sticker on my pov that will be parked in the lot every day. The second thing I will do is take my sweet old time every day checking out a pool car. Lastly I will patrol my beat, answer my runs but self initiated activity goes to ZERO. You cannot make me write tickets. You cannot make me stop people. I will handle all my calls and do my job, but you get not 1 extra dime in ticket money from me.

For those who still dont have a car Byerly Ford will work with you ask for Guy Jarboe 448-1661

Two months ago our FOP body of members voted to spend money on a professional spokesperson to get our message out in a clear and understandible manner. We still have nothing but 30 second news clips that do not promote our cause at all. If I were a citizen with no other information than this, I would probably not side with us either. We need to let the public know about the sacrifices that we have made in order to keep our insurance and the take home cars. It is clear to me from all the people I have explained this to that they have no idea what is going on other than what they see on the news. We need to make a unified stand before Feb 1, or we are going to look foolish to all.

i personally cannot afford to pay 1200 dollars a year for a car i do not drive off duty (live out of county). I have no choice but to turn it in this week. There is no telling how long this will last in court. I cannot let my family suffer because of Jerry's tantrums and schemes to screw anyone in uniform over. I now apologize to all those people I used to help DAILY - on the way to work, on the way home, and back and forth to court. taking you to get gas, changing your tires, pushing your car out of the road and giving you a ride home. I can't afford to help you anymore at the cost of my own family. I am truly sorry.

kickbacks

So if the city is saving money by robbing it from our paychecks, where did that money go that used to fund the now nonexistent air unit or pay the salaries of the 100+ officers we are short? Didn't WAVE 3 do a story on the air unit a few months ago? To bad the media is so out to get the police by setting up bait cars that they are missing the real story (not to mention the mayor's corruption of course).

I heard that in 12 months time Chief White will be gone and that Atlanta and at least 1 other larger city is trying to bait him away. Can anyone comment on if there is any truth to this??

My division is split 60/40 in favor of keeping the cars..I hear other divisions are the same. Anyway we can find out as a union what to do? I can see both sides of the issue and will do whatever the union decides to do. I JUST WANT TO KNOW ARE WE KEEPING THEM OR PARKING THEM.

I'm not a cop and I don't know all the info here, but I was discussing this case with a family member last night and we talked about how it will cost you guys 1200 a year for these cars. Is there a cap on this? I see angry people (or one person) here on this site keep telling you to get your own car or this is saving you a car payment, but I paid my car off in 5 years. Are you guys going to continue to pay 1200 a year for a car for 20 years? (and that's if the fee doesn't go up)

And what about cars that get wrecked, damaged, shot at, or taken out of service after they reach a certain mileage? 1200 a year for 20 years is $24,000. That's a little ridiculous to me when these cars are already paid for and aren't in that great of shape to begin with and EVENTUALLY you will turn them in (when you resign or retire). I mean, aren't some of you driving cars that used to be driven by someone else? or have in excess of 100,000 miles on them?

I know people think you guys are just a bunch of whiners and people can think this is something you guys should pay for, but other citizens in this city need to think long-term. This is a permanent fee they are implementing I presume? Not just a "this year only" for this years shortfall kind of thing. I can't understand how anybody (even cop haters) can think you guys should pay 25,000 over the years for a car you won't even get to keep when you are done using it for work. I see why you guys are so ticked off, especially when most citizens in this community aren't grasping the real magnitude of what this fee will mean.

Has anyone given any thought to an organized boycott of the 2009 awards banquet in protest over the increased fees? I know that I would feel quite dirty going up on stage and shaking the hand of the chief as he pretends to appreciate the dedication and sacrifices that officers made to earn those awards.

Guys...I am not saying what I will do yet. I just sold my car to my nephew because he was dying to have it so I am without a POV. At least see what the labor ruling is before you make a hasty decision. Thats all I ask. Also...be some what professional on here. If you want to dog the City do it...but keep it clean. I dont think we win any support from some of the public when we go off on rants on here. Just my opinion.

PS - where can I get one of those bumper stickers??? :)

BPatterson

Personally, I think that due to the apparent fact that a police vehicle parked in a residential neighborhood cannot help but serve as a deterrant to potential crime, Louisville government should see this as a worthwhile investment in the safety of its citizens and not as something of a convenience to its police officers. Granted, free gas, insurance, and maintenance are a huge plus to anyone operating a "company" vehicle......it shouldnt be something that a city employee should have to pay for. As long as the cop three doors down from me can park his car in his driveway I feel much more at ease and safe. Mayor Jerry might want to assess the cost differences of posting crimewatch signs in neighborhoods to the proposed cost of the 30 bucks he is asking for for the 4 wheeled signs parked down the street. I do, however, feel that police vehicles should NOT be used for off-duty purposes. Louisville police officers are paid sufficiently to afford their own personal vehicles for their family business.

some of us can't afford to wait months for a decision and must turn our cars in now. 1200 bucks a year ain't chump change.

HERE IS THE DEAL! Do nothing until we see what happens at the hearing in late February. It may take thirty days to get a decision, which will be in our favor. At that point we all send in letters stating that they cannot take the money out anymore and then fat head will be forced to TAKE the cars away.....you should not give up anything. Do you really think that around the end of March or early April fat head and stutterin Bob will take the cars away with Thunder and Derby around the corner? Think it through people, use the timing to our advantage. The public needs to know that fat head can take the cars this very minute but he hasn't....he can tell us to and from work only but he hasn't. He and the staff of the puzzle palace DO NOT have a clue how to handle this. TELL THEM YOU ARE KEEPING YOUR CAR.............HIT THEM WITH REALITY WHEN THEY LEAST EXPECT IT.

whats the deal??? This just started today, I come to this site and a log in box comes up for the email system at work. Is this happening to anyone else?

I just ordered a larger magnetic style bumper sticker that has a picture of Mr Mayor and Chief White on it in the crowns and king hats that reads, Jerry Abramson...Quit Screwing Us... Taxpayers and Cops!

The order came to like 10 bucks and it can be easily removed and think it will turn out great... If anyones interested contact me I will order more.. Its going on my ride as soon as it ARRIVES... Lemme know I will make a business outta this (fire6020@yahoo.com)

Dont forget about the Mayors Meeting tomorrow, 6:30 at Westport Middle.

Two things to remember:

Be sure to check your oil, water, brake and power steering fluids every day prior to pulling out of the lot. Please take the TIME to ensure your car is safe. I usually do this in the comfort of my garage, but if my car is left at the district, I will be forced to do it on city time. Right after I spend city time loading all the gear into it that I'll need for the day.

When your car needs service, take it to the shop! Make sure the car you drive is safe in every possible way. Make the city take care of this fleet the way they should. The city will have to have cars available for you to drive while yours is shopped.

Don't be a scab, Park em.

So, the cars were never a part of the contract? Ok, Are they gonna be a part of the next one?????

You know what. Screw everyone in this city and department. I don't trust anyone. Never trusted the @#$^! chief or %^^% mayor or any other FOP president we have had the past few years. All talk, everyone of them. We woundn't be so lucky as to see the chief leave anytime soon. And that idiot mayor, people in this city seem to forgive and forget. So you know that (@ %*ker mayor will probably be re-elected. This city is screwed with the current administration. Thats what you get when you elect or hire treehugging, *^ %king liberals.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THE CHIEF KEEPS SAYING WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR CAR INSURANCE , BECAUSE WE DO, OR CAN WE NOW CANCEL THE RIDER WE CARRY ? SO THE 100.00 IS NOW 130.00 AND IF YOU PAY 160.00 IS NOW 190.00. IVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE AND THEY CANT BELIVE WE MAKE LESS NOW THAN WE DID BEFORE MERGER, AND MANY DON'T KNOW ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE GIVEN UP OVER THE PAST YEARS, ONCE THEY KNOW THEY TO THINK ITS RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY JUST TO WORK. DOES THE MAYOR / CHIEF PAY TO USE HIS OFFICE ?

Understand this: the majority of the public wants the police cars in their neighborhood, BUT they don't think it's unfair or unreasonable to ask officers to pay the fee. This is not my opinion, this is a fact. At the end of the day, the FOP cannot do much about it because it's not contractual. We've established that the mayor and chief are d!cks and we're on our own. It's been said and beat to death. So, either pay the fee or don't. I'm just sick of reading all the chest thumping. Makes us look like sore losers.

Seems to me the use would qualify as a working condition fringe.

EVERY officer needs to contact their Council Member. Here's the email I just sent my representative:

Mr. Heiner,

I have never been very politically active except for voting. I have never contacted any of my representatives, partly due to not having any real complaints to be addressed, partly due to knowing that you have enough headaches dealing with the few wackos that contact you about everything under the sun, and partly due to not having any real faith that anything would change anyway.

I feel like I can't sit in silence anymore. I am a 16 year veteran of the Louisville Police Department, (now 'Metro') and have seen as many different chiefs, alderman and now council members come and go. The one constant that remains is Mayor Jerry Abramson's open disdain and disrespect for the Police, Fire/EMS and Correctional personnel that the citizens of Louisville rely on -for life and death- literally.

Mayor Abramson, as you are aware, strips money away from the Police Dpt.s' budget for anything and everything. I won't ramble on about all the underhanded back-door 'buddy deals' he has brokered with taxpayers' funds; I'm sure you're well aware of them as well. The concern that I am going to share with you is over the department's take-home car program. I understand that the city is in dire financial straights. I fully agree that cuts need to be made to get us through this hard time. What I disagree with is where the 'cuts' are being made. Do we really need granite curbs, decorative bike racks and wrought iron garbage can fences? (no, we don't!) How about Thunder Over Louisville? How many millions of dollars go up smoke during this chaos?

As far as the car program goes, I have gone for six years now with zero or two percent raises in our contracts just to see the measly two percent be wiped out (and more) with our health insurance premiums being raised 500%. -yes FIVE HUNDRED percent. Every time I have gone through a contract negotiation with this Mayor, we have been told the same thing...'there's no money in the budget for a raise.' Right after this is stated, though, we are told '...but you have your take home car...'. When I was first hired, the take home car program was listed in the benefits package along with salary, vacation days, etc. Whenever I have stopped for a stranded motorist, given directions, been approached by a citizen to report a crime in progress, seen a wanted subject in the grocery store...I have never been paid a dime for that work. Why? Because we were told it was in exchange for having the take home car. See a pattern here? The take home car has never been a 'priviledge' as we are now told it is.

Yes, having a car for $160 bucks a month is a good deal; until you figure in that the car is a rolling 'I'm a cop' billboard that allows untold free man-hours and that paying for it further reduces the already sub-par pay that we receive.

Mr. Heiner, I would ask that as my representative you please fight for me and every police officer that serves this city, and stand up to the Mayor in this matter. The morale of the officers is already at a low I've never experienced, yet we still go out there and do our job every day. I'm afraid what little pride we have in our city and our department will vanish altogether if the Mayor is

allowed to proceed with this scheme. Please help us.

Thank you,

Officer Ron Charles

LMPD 6th Division

I have contacted mine! I encourage everyone here to do the same, and ask your family and friends to convey their concerns to their respective Council Representatives.

My letter:

Dear Mr. Peden,

I am sure you're familiar with the LMPD Take-Home Car issues raised recently.

I am a Detective with LMPD. I have served this community for almost 18 years now (formally LPD). I understand if you may assume in advance that my opinion is skewed as a result, but I respectfully ask you to consider the many issues in this situation.

Over the years, I have personally conducted countless hours of "free" police work, addressing situations as they presented themselves to me while off-duty and in the take home police vehicle.

Also, every peer I can recount during that time has conducted themselves similarly, providing valuable police service to the citizens of this community while on their off-duty time.

The take home cars are, obviously, a nice benefit for the officers of our department. However, history will indicate that the reason the two former departments (LPD and JCPD) instituted these programs was not for the sole benefit of the officers. It was realized through studies, and real-world departments' experience around the nation, that the take-home fleet program vastly increased the longevity of the cars, reduced the maintenance costs of those cars, and provided a secondary benefit to the community in the form of increased police-presence.

It is important to note that over the years, both former departments, as well as LMPD, have used the "promise" of a take-home program as a recruiting tool, as well as a way of "off-setting" contracts which sometimes left a lot to be desired in terms of wages of our department(s) in comparison to similarly-sized departments around the country.

These are just a few of the many issues I feel it is important to convey not only to the Metro Council, but also to the citizens of this community.

Because many officers will not be able to afford this increased fee, many vehicles will be turned in. For this reason, the planned fee-increases on the take-home vehicles creates a real danger of vastly reducing police visibility, as well as prohibiting a timely police response to emergency situations, such as the recent wind storm.

It is understandable how the uninformed (or misinformed) may interpret the officers' resistance to the increased fee as simply being spoiled. However, I truly believe that my fellow officers are sincerely concerned about the negative impact to the citizens of this community should they be left with no other choice than to relinquish the vehicles.

I implore you to take the time to lend an ear, and an open mind, to our FOP leadership, as they present these, and other concerns regarding the Mayor's handling of this issue.

Thank you,

Glenn Craig

Detective, Major Crimes Division

Daniel Kelleher has resigned as president of the Louisville Downtown Management District, an agency that oversees planning, security and beautification in the center city.

Too bad the CJ wont do a complete investigation on why this one is leaving the ship. Pretty soon jerry will have no one to play with but himself.

We need a new article. This one is begining to bore me. Worm where are you?

A take home car for how much??? The public thinks it's such a great deal. Who wants to pay to drive a car to work that some ******** head whizzed in the backseat or spit loogies on the divider shield?? Yeah, on paper it sounds like one great deal, but how many people would want to use this as their car?? Plus, pay extra for additional insurance.

Due to unexpected SNOW, the Mayor Chief have decided to increase the take home car fees on Metro Police Officers. The Mayor stated they didn't budget for enough road salt to clear the roads, therefore he expects the police officers to pick up the tab! Get ready boys and girls, it's coming! Remember six months ago at 30/60 dollars it was the high gas prices, now it's 100/160 dollars because of the Mayors inability to budget!

Once this issue is over with the cars and they get parked, nothing will come of this. We will just be without cars and move on until a new mayor comes in!

Are we not Police officers? Isn't part of what we do investigative? I suggest we start doing our own little investigations on the Mayor, Chief, and members of the media. I know for a fact that the Chief has been stopped for DUI at least twice. Has anyone made domestic violence calls to his house? I bet they have. How about his infidelities? I guarantee you that members of the media are doing something shady. I say we start doing on own little investigations and start putting out little mailers with our findings. I'm willing to volunteer my time! Time to fight fire with fire. The only thing taking the high road has gotten us is tunnels dug underneath with the trolls stealing our gold. Let's stop being the sheep and start being the wolves. We own this City, it's about time people other than the thugs know that!

This has been mentioned before and is by far the best idea going. Just think folks what 15 mins in overtime a day will add up to over a period of 5 days a week for a month. This is the bare minium, much more can be had. The City will be paying for you to drive the cars, paying the rider insurance policy for those that have it and paying you extra to go in your pocket and towards your "high 3". No need for an off duty job or a small city. Remember, you don't even have to work the full 15 mins. Anything past 8 mins and you put in for 15 mins.

Simple math:

5 days @ 15 mins a day equal 1.25 hrs OT a week, bare minimum.

4 weeks in a month which equals 5 hrs OT a month.

Even an Officer just off probation in his 2-3 yr step is making $30/hr for O.T. muliplied by the 5hrs equals $150 month just for 8 mins extra each day he works. Car paid for, extra money in his pocket and padding his retirement. The overtime ranges anywhere from $30-40/hr, MINIMUM 150-200 dollars extra a month. You want more, just work 23 minutes extra a day and your payment doubles. Time to think outside the box folks, pay for the cars, drive them home and I'm sure you pass a few stranded motorists on your way to work every single day. Get a late run at the end of your shift, take advantage of the oppotunity that has presented itself. Just my take on the issue and how to fight back.

WHAS reported tonight on the 10 o'clock broadcast that approximately 50 cars were turned in following the January 29th deadline. Not much else was reported. No response from the city or the FOP. Hopefully some more details will come out in the next few days. I really would like to hear the FOP respond by saying this could only be the tip of the iceberg if the labor board hearing doesn't go our way on the 10th. Good luck to those of you who made your decision early. I have been driving my POV for about a month and a half now and I have to tell you, it hasn't been that bad. It is a good feeling to drive past non-injury accidents and not get flagged down. I even have been going through drive-thru windows. Something I never did in a marked car.

It is time for a new blog this one is old.

TALK ABOUT CRY BABIES, I WISH I COULD HAVE A CAR TO DRIVE, FREE GAS, NO UPKEEP, ABLE TO TAKE MY FAMILY MEMBERS FASTER THAN ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES, FREE INSURANCE, FOR 100 OR 160 A MONTH! I HAVE SEEN HOW THESE CARS ARE TREATED AND IT IS TERRIBLE! A LOT OF TIMES, I NOTICE THE POLICE IN THERE CARS DRIVING LIKE A RACE DRIVER EVEN WITH THERE FAMILYS. MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE GETTING THE TICKETS! CHIEF WHITE IS CORRECT WHEN HE SAYS THE CAR IS A PRIVALIGE, NOT A LAW! WHEN MY DAD WAS ON THE DEPARTMENT THEY HAD TO SHARE THERE CARS WITH THE OTHER SHIFT WORKERS, BUT THEY ALSO WERE NOT SPOILED. SO EXCUSE ME IF I CANNOT FEEL BAD FOR YOUR CAUSE!!! BOO-HOO!!!!!!

I hope they get to keep their cars