LMPD :: Louisville Metro Police Department
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Louisville appeals take-home car ruling

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Louisville metro government filed an appeal Monday in Jefferson Circuit Court, challenging the Kentucky Labor Cabinet's ruling that the city cannot charge a fee to police officers who take their cruisers home.

The cabinet ruled July 7 that the city would have to negotiate through a police union contract any fees associated with officers taking cars home. That ruling said the city must "immediately" stop charging the fees — $100 per month, or $160 per month if the car is used as transport to a second job — and allow back in any officers who opted out of the program to avoid the fees.

Bill O'Brien, chief assistant Jefferson County attorney, said Mayor Jerry Abramson "made the determination that it would be economically prudent to ask the court for a review." O'Brien also said the cabinet's ruling "infringed on executive discretion."

Under the program, officers are free to use the take-home vehicles for personal or family business, and do not have to pay for gas, maintenance or insurance. Abramson instituted the fees — initially smaller — in March 2008 as the city was facing a $13million budget shortfall. He increased the fees to their current level last fiscal year, when the city faced a $20million shortfall.

Also Monday, the Fraternal Order of Police, River City Lodge 614, sought a ruling on whether the city has to repay the $890,000 already collected from the take-home car program. The cabinet's ruling said the repayment should be negotiated with the union.

"It's our belief that the repayment should have been part of the Labor Cabinet decision," said FOP President John McGuire. "If the city was taking it out (improperly), then the money should be returned to the officers."

City officials said $1.4million would be collected from the program this fiscal year, if it were allowed to continue.

Labor Secretary J.R. Gray made the cabinet's ruling after the FOP filed an unfair labor practices complaint when the fees were imposed. Gray's ruling upheld a May 2009 recommendation of a Labor Cabinet hearing officer.

The fees have not been collected since Gray's ruling.