S.L. police fume over patrol-car plan

Salt Lake Police Association President Lee Dobrowolski said he was "dumbfounded" by the City Council's modification Tuesday of the city's reimbursement policy for take-home vehicles.

So much that Wednesday he met with attorneys and may sue the city.

"They didn't consider what we said at all. They did what they had to do, so we'll do what we have to do," he said.

City Council members modified Mayor Rocky Anderson's proposal for city employees taking home vehicles, a policy that largely affects police officers.

Under the council's plan, officers will pay between $7.90 and $81.55 every two weeks, depending on how far they live from I-80 and Redwood Road. Those who live within 15 miles of the site actually will end up paying less than they are now. But those who live up to 35 miles away would end up paying roughly $175 a month under the new reimbursement plan, which is part of the city's proposed budget scheduled for final adoption in June.

The council decided on those rates to encourage officers to live closer to the city. Police cars in neighborhoods deter crime and reassure neighbors, said Dave Buhler, council chairman.

"The big advantage is that you have police cars all around the city, and they're available to respond more," Buhler said. "The farther away you get, the less value there is to the public. That's just a fact of life."

Dobrowolski said he has tried to work diligently with the mayor and council members to reach a compromise. All officers expect to pay more to take their patrol cars home, he said. But those who live close to the city were willing to pay more than what the City Council proposed in order to help share the burden with fellow officers.

"I was ignored," Dobrowolski said. "I don't know anyone who spends $175 a month in gas going back and forth to work. I'm going to be talking to my attorneys to talk about a possible injunction and go from there. . . . The last thing I want to do is go to court. But they forced my hand."

Council members agreed with the police union's suggestion to keep the 35-mile limit for officers to use their cars and on the I-80 measuring point. Anderson wanted the distance reduced to 25 miles measured from the City and County Building downtown.

"An officer now paying $75 a month will now pay $175 a month for a car he can only drive back and forth to work," Dobrowolski said. "They're saying, 'We want to charge you $175 so we can park our car in your driveway.' "