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Chief's car hot topic for city councilSUNNYSIDE (Tuesday 5-19-98)--Most folks voted last November to cut city spending.
That's all well and good in theory. But when it's time to get on down to the knitty-gritty, nobody likes the gory details.
A big bunch turned up last night to zap councilmen who suggested cutting back on the police chief's and captain's vehicle allowances. This is not a popular idea with the chief, with his top staff, nor with some vocal Sunnysiders.
In the end, the issue remained undecided. But opinions were forcefully presented by both sides.
The issue has been brewing for some time between the four new councilmembers on one hand, in this instance led by Councilman Don Vlieger. On the other hand it's Police Chief Wallace Anderson and allies, including city staff. If the issue were to be decided by those showing up last night, the chief and captain would keep their wheels with no problem.
At this time, the city ostensibly pays the chief $375 a month for his pickup, and pays Capt. Mike Alvord $565 for his rig.
Vlieger's figures, however, indicate that liability insurance ($57/mo) and radio and light installation ($63/mo) add up to $495 a month for the chief's car, or $5,940 a year. On top of that, says Vlieger, the chief's mileage tallies up to another 7,825 miles. Bottom line, the city pays 76¢ a mile for the chief's car, says Vlieger.
Meanwhile, the department needs another dispatcher to preclude pulling line officers off the streets to do jailer and dispatcher work. Vlieger said he knows how it can be done.
Vlieger suggested paying the police chief mileage alone, saving $295 a month. Move the captain's car to a police pool vehicle, saving $565 a month. Cut $300 a month from the department's phone use bill. Direct the city manager to delete 30 of the city's 163 phone lines to save $660 a month. And pay the balance, $700, from the crime prevention and current expense funds. That tallies to $2,520 a month--the price of a new dispatcher.
"Based on the reports from Chief Anderson, we are currently using line patrol officers (street cops) to fill behind dispatcher and jailer vacancies at the rate of 300 hours a month. This is 300 hours or almost two full-time officers time that our cops are not on the streets each month," Vlieger said.
He said "We have limited public safety funds and we need to squeeze every ounce of gang suppression and police presence we can out of every dollar."
"We need to fund an additional dispatcher so we can get our officers in a radio car on the street instead of behind a desk at the station. Hiring an additional dispatcher is the most cost effective way to increase police presence on the street, and police presence is a crime deterrence," Vlieger said.
Taxpayers may have overwhelmingly responded to Vlieger's Sunnyside Daily News ad last year to cut city spending. But those voters stayed snug in their homes last night. The chief had some articulate speakers come to the defense of his wheels.
City staff maintain, going in, that the chief's car program saves the city an estimated $4,000 a year. But that wasn't all.
Wayne Jones said, "Why are we so concerned about the chief's car when the city manager gets a $15,000 (annual) raise? That's all I have to say."
Detective Sgt. Jim Rivard said he puts in a great deal of overtime he doesn't write down. "If you take the chief's car, I won't work any more overtime. I stay on late to keep the budget down," he said.
Rivard added that the chief is right where he needs him if Rivard calls for backup in a tight situation.
"I've attended 53 shootings the last three years. There may be another one tonight. I only need the chief's backup four to six times a year. But when I need him, I need him. And he's always there," Rivard said.
Dennis Birr, middle school principal, said the council wasn't considering the morale issue in the vehicle matter.
"You promised a community shakeup, and you've done that. But you need to consider department morale," Birr said.
Al Tebaldi, former Sunnyside police chief, said he started the vehicle allowance back in 1982.
"I think you're being penny-wise and pound foolish...You really need to consider cooperating with (the chief) by having his vehicle so he can respond in emergencies," Tebaldi said.
Don Outhet said, "The chief needs to live in closer to town so his mileage isn't so much. I think a two-year-old vehicle is okay. He should put a magnetic sign on the car so people can see him. If he'd have had a sign, there might not have been the recent lawsuit against the city."
Doreen Perez, Anderson's daughter, bristled at this. "He has two sirens, lights, and all the stuff on his undercover car," she said.
Officer Bill Eikenbary said he also works hundreds of hours of overtime. He said that will come to a halt if the chief is denied his car.
"The issue is much bigger than his car. It involves people. He needs the equipment. I depend on him for backup--it could mean my life. I don't think we're going to gain a lot with old equipment," he said.
Donda Waggoner said the chief must be able to respond in a fast, kindly manner. "Has a survey been conducted of other cities? What do their top officers drive?" she asked.
Bill Combs, Sunnyside Red Cross, from a small Ohio town, said a new council there wanted control.
"To get it, they drove wedges between line officers and department heads, and wedges between citizens and city staff. You need to stop and think what you're doing," he said.
Sgt. Jim Rivard, speaking again, noted that line officers are talking to councilmen, going over the heads of their superiors. "I want you to remember that line officers did not support you in the last election. We (top police staff) supported you," Rivard said.
Councilman Errol Brown said "I feel the program (paying for the chief's car) has worked well the past 15 years. I feel we're micromanaging the department. The $375 for the chief's car is in the budget," he said.
Brown suggested discussing the matter next December, when the 1999 budget will be up for discussion. "We're halfway through 1998 already," Brown said.
Councilman Vlieger said "This is not an attack on the police department. We promised resources for the PD. I'm suggesting (for the chief) a marked car, with 50-60,000 miles on it. A marked car is presence, and presence is a crime deterrent," Vlieger said.
Mayor Ed Prilucik noted he worked on the chief's car allowance in 1995. He said the city was not only paying for use of the vehicle; it's part of a compensation agreement.
"I have strong feelings it is more a compensation than a reimbursement. It's an administrative contract," he said.
Councilman Mike Farmer disagreed. "I don't want to look at the car as a benefit package. It should be a reimbursement. We need our line officers on the street."
Councilman Chad Werkhoven said "We need a new dispatcher in the PD. This is a cost-effective way to pay for another dispatcher, so we can get officers on the street rather than dispatching," he said.
Councilman Errol Brown reiterated that this is micromanaging city staff. "This council is supposed to set policy. The city manager is to organize it. The council has a few people on it who want to manage," he said.
Councilman Roy Anciso said "Do you think that by taking the chief's car we're going to get more police on the streets? You've had three or four officers here tell you what they need. If you want to give the PD more officers, take it out of the general fund," he said.
Then Chief Anderson spoke for the first time. He has remained fairly mum the past several weeks over the car issue.
Anderson said he has worked with Yakima County to house county prisoners. That's brought in $120,000 a year for the city. He has negotiated a dispatch contract with Mabton that brings in another $12,000 to $18,000 a year.
Anderson said the number of officers Sunnyside has is appropriate for its size. He noted the force has reduced the city's crime rate from 160 serious offenses per 1,000 population to 100.
Olympia statistics said Sunnyside crime has decreased 50% in 1997 versus 1996.
"I've served as chief for 15 years. I've given the public thousands, tens of thousands of hours with no compensation. The vehicle allowance has been good for me, good for the city, and a win-win situation.
"I'm not trying to take advantage of the city. I'm not trying just to get by. I've got a V-8 engine. The 31¢ a mile figure comes from the IRS. The Triple-A says car mileage costs are 60¢ a mile for a V-8.
"I've heard talk of giving the city a marked car. A city of 12,000 doesn't give marked units (to their chiefs). An unmarked unit allows the chief to see what's really going on in the city. That's his job.
"I've served the city well," said the 28-year Sunnyside veteran. "I'm a good chief. There are probably better ones out there. But I'm a damn good chief," he said.
The council put off a firm decision on the matter, until a later date.