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Police car plan hits roadblock
By ALEX LEARY and CARRIE JOHNSON
© St. Petersburg Times, CRYSTAL RIVER -- Crystal River police Chief Jim Farley's plan to outfit his troops with take-home cars hit a stumbling block when City Council members learned only two members of the force lived within city limits. Some council members felt the news punched a hole in Farley's theory the take-home cars would drive down crime because thugs would think twice before committing crimes if a patrol car were sitting in a nearby driveway. "The citizens are not going to feel safer at night," council member Bonnie Taylor said during a budget workshop Thursday. "The citizens in Dunnellon, the people in Beverly Hills may feel safer, but they are not paying our taxes." Farley pressed on, arguing that the plan would reduce wear and tear on patrol cars and decrease the amount of time it would take officers to reach an emergency. He had proposed the city buy nine new marked cars so that the department's 16 patrol officers could drive the vehicles home at night. Four members of the force, including Farley, already drive take-home cars. Farley's original plan called for the city to pay for all nine cars this year, a lump sum of $243,000. During Thursday's meeting, he offered a different recommendation: At $71,000 a year for four years, a lease program would enable the city to acquire 10 fully equipped vehicles. Farley suggested funding the project with money from a reserve fund established after the city sold a nursing home in 1997. Interest from the fund has been used in the past for replacement of capital assets. The fund contains $2.1-million and generated $125,000 in interest last year. The council seemed unsure whether the program would be beneficial in a small community and asked Farley for a better comparison of the costs and savings. Perhaps Farley's biggest challenge was persuading the council that more police cars would reduce crime within the city. He argues that criminals will see a police car, either parked in a driveway or about town, and think twice about breaking into a home, for example. "My goal is to prevent crime in Crystal River," Farley said. "If I can make (criminals) do it someplace else because they see too many patrol cars here, that's good." But with only two members of the force living inside city limits -- Farley is one of them -- council members grew skeptical. "That's a shocker to me," council chairman Mike Gudis said, adding that he had "concerns about the whole subject," including liability and insurance. Said Mayor Ron Kitchen: "If all these cars were staying in town, this would be a no-brainer." Farley argued that the increased number of cars would raise police visibility, even if the cars aren't staying within city limits at all times. Officers could use the cars for grocery shopping or to see a movie while in the city, although they would be prohibited from carrying passengers, such as spouses. Council members balked at that idea, saying it raises liability questions. Gudis also questioned whether taxpayers should support the cost of running errands. Also, if an officer lives in Inverness, for example, it would be unlikely he or she would shop in Crystal River, Gudis said. Farley defended the plan Friday, saying the potential benefits far outweigh the costs. The take-home cars would extend the life of the department's cars from two years to as many as seven, he said. Also, officers could drive directly to the scene of a crime rather than having to stop at the Police Department and change cars. "If there's a call they have to respond to, they'll be able to get there in a hurry," Farley said. The council has asked Farley to do more research into the matter and present it to them again.
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