City looks at South Lake Tahoe Police Take-Home Vehicle Program

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Chief Brian Uhler presented the idea of a take-home vehicle policy for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) to the City Council Tuesday, something that many other departments across the world have found to be successful in both recruiting and retention. Not only for these reasons, but take-home vehicles have also resulted in cleaner cars with fewer mechanical problems, longer life-spans and reduced costs.

Uhler said cars are currently in service 24/7. When one shift gets off the next shift takes over the same vehicles. He said if the vehicles are assigned to individual officers they are taken care of better.

City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 17 new police vehicles at a total cost of $1,205,390 to replace an aging fleet. This amount was included in the recently approved budget and it gives them enough vehicles to start the program.

But, the Council isn't sold on the proposed take-home vehicle program.

Uhler said allowing officers to take home their assigned vehicles is not only a recruitment tool in a shrinking police officer pool across the country, but it could also be a morale booster and would allow officers to get to a scene from home faster.

This is something the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) agrees with. They started a take-home vehicle police earlier this year in April.

"We have seen an increase in law enforcement coverage throughout the County, for example, on several major incidents deputies were able to leave their homes immediately and respond to assist the needs of the County and other deputies," said DCSO Undersheriff Ron Elges. They also help with crime prevention/traffic enforcement en route to the office or home.

"The patrol vehicle fleet is being better-taken care of due to the commitment of the Deputy to take care of 'their' vehicle," said Elges.

He said they are doing an annual audit of the program to see if costs of taking home their patrol vehicles outweigh the benefit, and so far costs are not increasing.

"Another benefit we have seen is an increase in morale for the employees here, they were always positive, but they seem to be more positive and prideful of our Sheriff’s Office, which we believe is creating better work productivity,' said Elges. "We continue to evaluate the program, but so far we believe it has been very successful, which is due to the professionalism of our deputies to make this program successful."

The 38 current sworn SLTPD staff shows 95 percent live within 32 miles of South Lake Tahoe with 16 of them within 10 miles and in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Many live in the Carson Valley for a few reasons including affordability, established homes and schools, and a need to take a break from the area they serve when not on duty.

The Council had much discussion over the merits and challenges of a possible take-home vehicle program. They weren't very receptive of supplying vehicles to officers not living in the Tahoe basin.

City Councilman Devin Middlebrook suggested all get a take-home car now, but for future hires, there would be a requirement that cars only go to those living in South Lake Tahoe or the Tahoe Basin.

City Councilman Cody Bass suggested the cars only go to the officers who live in the Basin. He said staff may move back to South Lake Tahoe if they had vehicles provided by the department to go to and from work.

In his report, Uhler said although they prefer officers live in the City limits
or the Tahoe Basin, due to the significantly higher housing costs he does not recommend limiting the ability to utilize a take-home vehicle to the City limits or the Tahoe Basin only.

In Anderson, Indiana the restrictions put on their department's vehicle take-home policy led to seven officers quitting, according to their police union. Their City Council placed restrictions that said officers could not take the cars out of city limits, but with many living in neighboring towns, the officers without cars said they felt the rules too restrictive.

Elges said about 90 percent of the DCSO deputies participate in the take-home policy. He said the others don't participate due to parking issues at their home or personal desires to not take it home. One of their deputies who has been issued a take-home vehicle lives in South Lake Tahoe.

SLTPD Lt. Shannon Laney said another benefit of officers having take-home vehicles is in the case of emergencies they can respond from home with lights flashing and sirens going, something they cannot do if in their personal cars.

The Council said they will work on a take-home vehicle policy and directed staff to craft one.