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Main Page Take Home Cruisers
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Posted by: Mitpo62

Any agencies out there in the greater metro Boston area have take home cruisers (other than MSP, K9, detectives, brass, etc.)? I am interested in putting together some info on the pros/cons of take home patrol cruisers for officers. I understand the initial cost impact is high, but the long term benefits are good for the officer and the city/town (and of course the cruiser itself). Your feedback is appreciated....chime in!

Posted by: SPINMASS

My town looked at it a couple years back and only looked at the initial cost. The new chief is interested in the idea again, don't know if it is going to go anywhere though.

Posted by: Q5POS

DEA, FBI, Secret Service.. to name a few, if you want to call what they drive "cruisers". I've passed the same T cruiser on Route 3 on the South Shore a number of times when I head into work for the mid shift in Boston. I know a Boston Cop that has a take home cruiser because he's on the Hazmat team. I'm sure your gonna get a lot of responses but I'm not really sure what your looking for exactly. I don't know any local departments that have take home cruisers, just specialized officers if at all. Maybe some of the brass in town do but thats about it. the only department in which EVERYBODY gets a take home crusier is the MSP, and you already knew that.

To comment on the pros and cons of take home sleds, I think it's definitely better. Guys treat their own personal cruiser like it's their own personal family car. As a result, the vehicles are maintained better, perform better, and last longer resulting in less spending for newer cruisers over the long haul. Instead of buying a new cruiser every three years, a crusier thats maintained properly, can last 5-8 years easy. Look at the amount of old police cars that are on the road still that are TAXI's, that have 200,000+ miles on them. The only con is fuel costs and more frequent maintenance costs (oil changes, brakes, shocks, etc..)

You could also look at how CT State police handle their crusiers. They lease them and they get new ones every three years. At least I think they do... thats what I heard.

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q5POS

You could also look at how CT State police handle their crusiers. They lease them and they get new ones every three years. At least I think they do... thats what I heard.

They're also resident Troopers and their cruisers are for personal use too...lightbar comes off and off to the boobie bar you go...really fast

Posted by: evidence

Truro, Mass on the cape. I heard that every officer has a take home car a couple years ago, not sure if they still do.

Posted by: USMCTrooper

CT SP don't have cages but they get to use them for personal use. For the trade -off I will use my own car for personal use. I know a few towns that looked at the idea but nixed it because of fuel costs, maint. costs including snow tires and the liability of off duty crashes and out of jurisdiction issues. One that I heard mentioned by a Union member was will they be covered on OT if off duty, commuting in a town out of their area and someone signals them for help or a crime is committed in front of them.

The Town said no.

Posted by: snapbox

My boss is a dispatcher for truro... no MDTs, and I'm pretty sure no take-homes either. That town has a VERY small department and a VERY small budget.

Posted by: phuzz01

Sure, having a takehome cruiser is nice in many respects. But it definitely has its disadvantages, too. It is a guaranteed fact of life that everytime you are late getting home, you WILL happen across a zillion disabled vehicles, crashes, etc. Everytime you exceed the speed limit by 5mph going home after working for 12 hours, someone will call in a complaint. And for those working nights or midnights, you have to do all cruiser maintenance on your own time (e.g. oil changes, transmissions services, inspection, changing out tires, and other repairs etc.).

Also, you better have a garage. Because if you park it in the driveway, you can count on somebody knocking on your door once a week or so. "Are you a cop? Because I have this neighbor...BLAH BLAH BLAH."

Posted by: VTCOP

I love haing my take home car. It really does have advantages, like not spending a million on gas, and wasting mileage on your own car. The biggest con to this is being called in for stuff. I work 60+ hours already, and they expect with a take home car that you'll pretty much be available 24/7. Otherwise I love it!

Posted by: 033120orjustcause

Carver PD issues each of their officers their own cruiser. There are 16 or 18 officers there, each with their own car. The cars used to be white with a cranberry stripe and there are a couple of them left but most have been replaced within the last tw or three years with black and white cruisers. They must have had to document such a plan to do what they did. Maybe a call to them would get you their plan and how they were able to give each officer their own car. Sure is unique around here. What a perk!

Posted by: j809

Quote:

I work 60+ hours already

What's wrong with that, I keep it at 80 a week.

Posted by: Macop

Truro has take home cars unless it changed recently. The following pds in MA have take home cars. Bernardston, Gill, Northfield, Erving and I think there may be a few other of the smaller towns in Hampshire, franklin, and Hampden counties, but i'm not sure.

Posted by: rg1283

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macop

Truro has take home cars unless it changed recently. The following pds in MA have take home cars. Bernardston, Gill, Northfield, Erving and I think there may be a few other of the smaller towns in Hampshire, franklin, and Hampden counties, but i'm not sure.

Thats because in most of those towns the Police Chief is the only full-time police officer. For those of you east of Route 91.

Posted by: j809

Ashby and Hardwick has take home cars also.

Posted by: Mitpo62

Thanks for all the input folks. Seems like a nice benefit for the patrol officers; selling it to the city/town may be a challenge. Everything I have read thus far indicates a cost start up, but the long term fiscal savings are beneficial. Could be an interesting contractual challenge.....

Posted by: snapbox

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macop

I stand corrected! =)

Posted by: dave7336

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuzz01

Sure, having a takehome cruiser is nice in many respects. But it definitely has its disadvantages, too. It is a guaranteed fact of life that everytime you are late getting home, you WILL happen across a zillion disabled vehicles, crashes, etc. Everytime you exceed the speed limit by 5mph going home after working for 12 hours, someone will call in a complaint. And for those working nights or midnights, you have to do all cruiser maintenance on your own time (e.g. oil changes, transmissions services, inspection, changing out tires, and other repairs etc.).

Also, you better have a garage. Because if you park it in the driveway, you can count on somebody knocking on your door once a week or so. "Are you a cop? Because I have this neighbor...BLAH BLAH BLAH."

I agree 100%. The last thing that I want is to have to stop for accidents and dmv's on my way home..I would much rather put a windbreaker over my uniform shirt, drive by the minor mva and call it in on a cellphone. Unless the town/city is compensating you for your travel time, it is not worth the aggravation.

I think the State PD compensates those who are assigned to Massport and the Pike because the cruisers belong to the agency and not the State PD. Therefore, they are not take home cars and they get reimbursed for mileage. Not sure about this, but I thought I had heard something like this before.

Posted by: MM1799

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave7336

Therefore, they are not take home cars and they get reimbursed for mileage. Not sure about this, but I thought I had heard something like this before.

You're right. Trps assigned to E receive a stipend to compensate for not having a take home cruiser.

As far as DMVs and 16s while commuting, it's a fact of life if you have a take home cruiser. Like it or not, it's part of the deal. You are entrusted with cruiser and given a gas card. In return, you provide free coverage (guest patrol) while commuting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuzz01

Also, you better have a garage. Because if you park it in the driveway, you can count on somebody knocking on your door once a week or so. "Are you a cop? Because I have this neighbor...BLAH BLAH BLAH."

Very true!! Although I also think it keeps the neighborhood (ok, ok -- just my house

) safer. I dont know for a fact but if I was going to rob a house I wouldn't pick the one with a grey-bird sitting in the driveway!

Posted by: Rock

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM1799

I wouldn't pick the one with a grey-bird sitting in the driveway!

Grey bird or blue bird? Most people don't care about the unmarked. Some might even think you work for the jail or something like that.

Posted by: VTCOP

Quote:

Originally Posted by j809

What's wrong with that, I keep it at 80 a week.

After 8.5 years, it's getting old, quickly...i like the money and all, but I'd like to have a life too.

Posted by: HELPMe

Honestly, unless you live in a real small dept with a pro police community its not going to happen. At about 30k equipped for about 40 officers its going to cost the town out the A$$. It would cripple the budget for other services such as school busses, public works, fire dept, conservation all that jazz. Most towns in MA either squander away what they have or they toss it in a slush fund that never gets touched.

Posted by: MM1799

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock

Grey bird or blue bird? Most people don't care about the unmarked. Some might even think you work for the jail or something like that.

It's a grey bird. I guess "technically" you can call it unmarked.. pushbar w/ lights, state plates and my favorite 17 antennas really allows me to blend in

Thank god I work mids so I can hide in the dark

Posted by: SinePari

If you live inside of 128 in a triple decker with one parking spot, I can see a problem with a take-home. If you have a garage, put it in there. If you have friendly neighbors and live on a cul-de-sac like I do, I leave it out in the open, and no problems.

Commuting out west wasn't a big deal. I've traveled slighty above the posted limit on the big road when commuting and never got a complaint. A crash or a DMV, so what, you call the barracks in that area or just do it yourself. It takes a few minutes out of your day. If my wife and kid were stuck on the side of the road, I would hope a cruiser would stop to assist.

Posted by: Duff112

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinePari

If you live inside of 128 in a triple decker with one parking spot, I can see a problem with a take-home. If you have a garage, put it in there. If you have friendly neighbors and live on a cul-de-sac like I do, I leave it out in the open, and no problems.

Commuting out west wasn't a big deal. I've traveled slighty above the posted limit on the big road when commuting and never got a complaint. A crash or a DMV, so what, you call the barracks in that area or just do it yourself. It takes a few minutes out of your day. If my wife and kid were stuck on the side of the road, I would hope a cruiser would stop to assist.

Sine-

I agree with you 100%, especially the statement about your wife and kids and how you would want someone to stop and assist. The problem I see though is that when your on the Pike headed Westbound nobody knows whether your on duty or off and exceeding the speed limit. They just take note that it's a Statie figuring your out of Troop E (Does Troop E still put an E after the cruiser number???). Now if I had a take home and passed somebody on the Pike in Natick with "_________" Police on the side and back, then there might be a few complaints called in...

Posted by: OutOfManyOne

I'd rather take the $$$ if i worked for MSP and commute to work with my BMW M5, paid for from the stipend.

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duff112

It's not a problem that I know of. An occasional call, maybe. But a systemic problem throughout the state, no. Believe me, it doesn't matter whether you're commuting or on patrol. Some people have a negative opinion in their brains about us anyway, so what. They'll call to complain, and then they'll call when they need you. Either way, I still get paid every two weeks.

Posted by: Macop

rg1283 wrote:
Thats because in most of those towns the Police Chief is the only full-time police officer. For those of you east of Route 91.

Wrong, I worked for a few of those towns and usually the set up is 3 f/timers Chief, Sgt and patrolman and usually a hand full of p/timers. Usually the three f/timers get the take homes, some of the towns the patrolman or jr patrolman if there are more than 2 patrolman will share his/her take home with the p/timers. But it varies from town to town.

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