I. RECOMMENDATION:
The police department is requesting the council's permission to change the police departments Take Home Vehicle Policy.
II. BACKGROUND:
In 2010, the police department's vehicle policy was created which included the ability to take an assigned city police vehicle home when not on duty, for sworn employees living within the Coalinga City limits.
III. DISCUSSION:
When the take home vehicle policy was created, there was never a discussion regarding K-9 officers taking patrol vehicles home. It was not an issue as our outgoing K-9 officer lived in Coalinga City limits.
Now that we will be bringing on another K-9 and assigning a new K-9 Officer, it is important to modify this policy as the next Officer selected may not live within Coalinga City limits and it is necessary for a K-9 Officer to have a patrol vehicle to transport the K-9.
The recommendation is to add a section to the take home vehicle policy regarding the K-9 unit and the transportation of the K-9. Any Officer selected by the Chief of Police to be assigned to the Department's K-9 unit shall be issued a patrol vehicle designated as a K-9 vehicle for patrol duties and for the transportation of the K-9 to and from work regardless of where the officer lives.
The K-9 must be transported in a cage designed for the vehicle and meets the safety requirements to transport the K-9 safely.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
Do not approve (not recommended). Not approving would limit who could serve as a K-9 Officer as a patrol vehicle is necessary to transport the K-9.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
Depending on where the selected Officer lives, the estimated fiscal impact could be as high as follows:
244 daily miles X 4 days per week X 52 weeks = 50,752 miles per year at the Calendar Year 2022 IRS mileage rate for expected gas and vehicle depreciation of 0.585 = $29,689.93 which is unbudgeted and impacts the General Fund.
Again, this is the maximum fiscal impact as this estimate assumes the Officer who lives the furthest would be the K-9 Officer. It is likely the fiscal impact would be much less.
This is also an estimated cost for one (1) K-9 Officer. If additional K-9 Officers are authorized, this amount may increase.
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