Steve Conrad to be new Louisville chief, source says

I have to disagree. The cost in public perception is not worth it. Over and over you hear negative remarks about the take home car program. Even though response time is better, etc. it is a sore spot with the public and needs to go. When gas was cheap, the public didn't care as much but times have changed and so have perceptions.

Buy yourself another car if you don't already have one and be prepared to lose the take home car program. Once you are free from having them held over your heads, you may actually feel some relief. Another point is that you won't have to worry about the liability of driving around a city car on your own time.

I suppose I could be in the dark on public perception--- most of my contacts have all seemed to appreciate a car in the area... nor do they seem to get to concerned over the fuel.. but I don't doubt that there are those that cry foul..... some of the same people likely think we shouldn't get a pension or be given money for uniforms... some are always going to be unhappy with what we are given regardless of public value...

I would honestly like to know the fuel difference between a drive from the border of a division to a sub station versus a drive from the border to our communities. Not entirely certain that little bump in crime deterrence would not offset it and certainly not in the face of a morale drop and recruiting class quality drop due to one less benefit.

But perhaps I am biased...

J-R

But that is negated by 17 officers living in one subdivision. THAT subdivision is protected, but other places that could use that presence don't get it. (And of course, when all the cars are parked at the county line, that defeats the purpose.