LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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Officers given 7 days to decide on take home cars

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RE: Officers given 7 days to decide on take home cars

January 23rd, 2009 @ 8:19PM (15 years ago)

...yes, it would be, IF it wasn't for the fact that we have'nt had anywhere near a cost of living raise in SIX years, plus our benefits cost such as health insurance being raised 500% -yes FIVE HUNDRED PERCENT-

Oh, yeah, plus the fact that we have been told EVERY YEAR that we are not getting a raise because we have the take home cars for free!! PLUS the fact that when we were hired we were told it was PART OF OUR SALARY.

RE: Officers given 7 days to decide on take home cars

January 24th, 2009 @ 10:04AM (15 years ago)

Some, maybe most, I don't know, purchase supplemental insurance to cover the cruiser should it be damaged while being driven off-duty (not off-duty jobs, just off-duty). It isn't required, but it is a risk not to have it.

The one point that keeps getting missed, however, is that sure, if all I used the car for was my own purposes while off the clock, it would be good deal. However, that isn't the case. When I pull out of the driveway in that cruiser, no matter if going to work, or going to the store for a prescription for a sick child, I'm effectively on duty and OBLIGATED (by written policy) to stop and take appropriate action, just like if I was on the clock. It has long been understood that obligation was offset by the "free" cars - and we've not turned in OT for it, although, by law, we could. I easily get several hours a week handling that duty, and at my overtime rate, would cost the city far MORE than what they want to charge me for the car. And if I pay one dime more in fees, I will be turning it all in on OT, although I'm quite sure the major will deny it. However, I will also be quite sure to adequately document it, call it in on the radio, get times, etc., and if they deny it, we'll be in Frankfort at a Labor hearing on the city's blatant violation of wage and hour law. How is this saving the city any money at all?

Some officers, now, rarely drive the cruisers, because they don't want to haul their family in it - would you REALLY want your 2 year old riding in the back seat where you had a guy throw up the day before? But I guarantee, if we pay more, we will use them at every opportunity, both to get our money's worth for what we are paying, AND to have the opportunity to earn enought OT to make it up. (And the nice thing, that OT could, for those close to retirement, really help to increase the pension - and that too, will ultimately cost the city more money.)

How is any of this a good idea?