LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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FOP still in fight with city over take-home car fees

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Some Louisville police officers say they want to sit down with city leaders over the issue of take-home police cars.

Police officers say they haven't been reimbursed for their take home car fees. Now they want their money back.

The River City Fraternal Order of Police says it's been asking the mayor to sit down with them to negotiate, but those requests have been ignored. But the Mayor's office says the case is being negotiated in court.

The County Attorney's office has now filed an appeal for the case to go to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The FOP is filing a cross appeal, hoping to get its money back.

The issue of take home cars has been a contentious fight since 2008 as officers were asked to pay $100 to $160 a month to take their cars home.

A state Labor Cabinet ruling declared the fees improper, agreeing with the union that the issue needs to be negotiated. The ruling did not require the city to refund about $890,000 from officers who had already paid the fees. That money now sits in escrow.

Dave Mutchler, the FOP President, says, "At this point, we've decided we're going to file a cross appeal, ask for reimbursement of our funds that were unilaterally taken without bargaining and without negotiation."

Mayor Jerry Abramson says the money will be given back once there's a determination by the highest court in Kentucky whether it's a privilege or a right for police to have take home cars. The city has argued the take home police cars are a privilege, not a right.

The FOP says it should be a part of collective bargaining. Contracts for police officers and sergeants and lieutenants ends next June. Some worry about having to pay for take home cars in the future.

The city wanted the take home car fees because of a $20 million budget shortfall.