Joe Hornaday
Greensburg Daily News
May 13, 2008 06:54 pm
—
At a special meeting at city hall on Monday, the city council decided
to amend an ordiance and officially grant Greensburg Police
Department (GPD) Chief Brian Heaton the discretion to determine the
use of police cars for officers’ personal use.
Heaton specifically requested an amendment to resolution 2006-9
regarding the taking home of police vehicles.
“We spoke last Monday about this, and have had numerous
discussions regarding this issue,” Heaton began.
With several members of the GPD in attendance, Heaton claimed he
had once been given the impression the police were not welcome at
the meetings, but that had changed recently.
According to Heaton, the issue that brought this resolution before
the councilors was the request from the schools that a police officer
provide a watchful eye on the school grounds as the end of
semester approaches. Heaton admitted that the resolution had
essentially been ignored since it was made two years ago.
To provide a little history on the topic, Mayor Gary Herbert spoke to
Heaton and the councilors. The take-home vehicle ordinance, he
said, had a limit of a five-mile radius when the council had passed
the resolution, and it still stands.
Councilor Herb Hunter added that, as he understood it, it was
standard practice that the officers could use their squad vehicles for
personal use, as long as they reimbursed the mileage.
All of the council members agreed that a police car out in the public
would certainly deter crime, and no one disputed the usefulness of
the off-duty presence. In fact, the presence of an off-duty officer who
was still in his cruiser helped the department wrangle two thieves
who had allegedly shoplifted from the Wal-Mart in early March. Even
then, Heaton noted the benefit to the community.
Herbert understood the usefulness too, and noted that was not the
real issue.
“What we need to look at instead is how much can we afford,”
Herbert said.
In trying to amend the 2006-9 resolution to allow the chief to
authorize use of cruisers when a police officer is off duty, Heaton
added that it was strictly a safety issue.
The fact that the resolutions called for a “limited” off-duty use was
the complex issue the council faced. The rising cost of fuel prices
were another concern. But according to Heaton, the cost to the city
would be very small, and if the fuel costs did dip into the red, the
police chief claimed that there were other items in the budget where
the money could be obtained.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball to budget fuel,” Heaton
said.
City councilor Bill Wenning suggested that the group pass the
resolution and give the project a year or so, and revisit the issue if it
gets out of hand.
Before a motion was made, however, Herbert had some words of
advice for the police department.
“I encourage all city police officers to be conservative,” he
suggested. “Conserve all you can so we can keep this privilege. We
want to have you out in the cars, but be conservative.”
The resolution, as written, allows for personal use to and from the
officers’ homes and work, while allowing no passengers. Hunter
added, the way the resolution is written places all responsibility on
Heaton. Councilor Jaime Cain concurred with Hunter.
“I think your discretion should be your standard operating
procedure,” he said.
Wenning also agreed with Cain and Hunter.
“We’re only changing a resolution which can be changed
again," he cautioned.
The motion unanimously passed to give Chief Heaton cart blanche
in determining the privileges of taking home police vehicles.
Other issues before the city council included discussion on
ordinance 2008-05-10. The council and the mayor wanted to put up
two stop signs on railroad tracks that cross Washington Street and
Vandalia Road. Greensburg Fire Chief Scott Chasteen noted that the
idea was a quick-fix, but it would improve public safety. The council
unanimously passed the motion to put up the two stop signs.
The final topic that was presented to the council was the mayor’s
thoughts on peddler’s permits.
“Who likes to have someone knock on their door at lunch time and
have them sell you something you don’t want to buy?” he asked.
Councilor Helen Gardner wondered aloud that the city has an
ordinance, and questioned why this was being examined.
According to some members of the council, the ordinance did not go
far enough in keeping unwanted peddlers off the streets. The
council agreed that schools, churches and scouts would be
allowed, but Herbert worried about the safety for the people of
Greensburg.
“Just a little food for thought,” he said.
The city council will address the issue at its next meeting after
having time to look over the ordinance.
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Greensburg Daily News