* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Harris
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Baltimore City Police Patrol Cars - Take Home Policy
FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore City Police Commissioner to study the efficacy of adopting a take-home patrol car program for Baltimore City police officers and to report to the City Council on the success or failure of take-home patrol car policies in other subdivisions across the country and the comparative advantages and disadvantages of adopting a take-home patrol car policy for City officers.
Body
Recitals
Research reported by PoliceOne.Com, an organization of over 100,000 law enforcement personnel shows that one of the most important decisions that an agency has to make about its patrol cars is whether to permit its officers to take the vehicles home and use them as both rolling offices and personal transportation.
One of the greatest advantages of a take-home patrol policy is the increased visibility of police officers in their communities and on the roadways. However, it has been found the greatest advantage of allowing police officers to take-home patrol cars is the ready deployment of an off-duty officer to critical incidents. "Because an officer has his or her gear and a car at all times, he or she can roll within a few minutes notice. The result is that off-duty officers can respond more rapidly to hostage, barricade, or active-shooter situations."
Another benefit of take-home patrol cars is that a take-home policy can help an agency fill its ranks. Police departments that offer such policies can use them as recruiting tools. The website of the Pierce County, Washington Sheriff's Department promotes the availability of take-home cars for all deputy sheriffs as a "perk." Take-home cars have even been an acknowledged factor in why some officers left one agency for another.
Because patrol cars are often run 24 hours a day,7 days a week, and through a wide range of driving conditions and demands for constant shifts in speeds, keeping the units in good repair is a full-time job. In a bid to establish and maintain greater accountability for patrol car operation and upkeep, many police agencies have found that when officers are assigned their own take-home patrol cars, they tend to be more responsible with them. In addition, allowing the cars to be taken home, means agencies no longer have to maintain garage facilities.
A study commissioned by the city of Tacoma, Washington, concluded that by allowing officers to drive to and from work in their patrol cars, the City a saved significant amount of money a year. Pierce County, Washington's Sheriff notes that while most patrol cars may last a police department 1 or 2 years, their cars not only last an average of 6 years but are so well-conditioned that they can be resold to smaller subdivisions for their police forces.
It has been acknowledged that not one of the police districts in Baltimore City is manned at the appropriate level. Allowing police officers to take home their patrol cars would give the police a more visible presence, increase the perception of community safety, and, hopefully, help to deter those criminal opportunists who find those who live in their neighborhood easy and convenient prey.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Baltimore City Police Commissioner is requested to study the efficacy of adopting a take-home patrol car program for Baltimore City police officers and to report to the City Council on the success or failure of take-home patrol car policies in other subdivisions across the country and the comparative advantages and disadvantages of adopting a take-home patrol car policy for City officers.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Commissioner review the Police Department's conclusion on the fiscal impact of a take-home patrol car policy with the Director of Finance.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Baltimore City Police Commissioner, the Director of Finance, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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