NCJ Number
60081
Date Published
1977
Length
39 pages
Annotation
THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY POLICE DIVISION'S HOME FLEET PROGRAM (KENTUCKY) IS COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE ALL-POOL PLAN USED BY SOME OTHER POLICE AGENCIES.
Abstract
THE HOME FLEET PROGRAM STIPULATES THAT OFFICERS DRIVE MARKED PATROL CARS TO AND FROM WORK AND USE THEM FOR PERSONAL ACTIVITIES WHILE OFF DUTY. ALL OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR RADIO ON AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN THE VEHICLE SO THAT THEY CAN RESPOND TO CALLS. THE PROGRAM THUS RESULTS IN ADDITIONAL ON-THE-STREET PATROL TIME. THE MORE TRADITIONAL POOL SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A POOL OF CARS WHICH OFFICERS USE IN 8-HOUR SHIFTS. AT THE END OF EACH SHIFT, THE CARS ARE RETURNED TO A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR USE BY OFFICERS ON THE NEXT SHIFT. SINCE THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY DIVISION OF POLICE HAS BEEN OPERATING UNDER THE HOME FLEET PROGRAM FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS, DATA ON A COUNTY ALL-POOL SYSTEM ARE NOT AVAILABLE. INSTEAD, THE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS USING THE POOL SYSTEM FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES. TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION VEHICLE COSTS, MAINTENANCE, GAS, AND INSURANCE, THE COUNTY ESTIMATED THE HOME FLEET PROGRAM TO BE ABOUT $66,956 MORE EXPENSIVE THAN AN ALL-POOL PLAN OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD. HOWEVER, AFTER INCLUDING THE SAVINGS REALIZED FROM OFF-DUTY ACTIVITY BY OFFICERS, COMPUTED TO BE ABOUT $127,000 FOR A 3-YEAR PERIOD, THE COUNTY FOUND THE HOME FLEET PROGRAM TO BE REALLY $60,358 LESS EXPENSIVE THAN AN ALL-POOL PLAN OVER 3 YEARS. THE VEHICLES NECESSARY TO KEEP THE HOME FLEET PROGRAM AT ITS NECESSARY OPERATIONAL LEVEL, IT IS CONCLUDED, SHOULD BE PURCHASED. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)