Speak Up: Should police departments offer take-home vehicles?

Many police departments across the state — including large agencies like the Delaware State Police and smaller ones like Cheswold — allow their officers to take home their duty vehicles, with certain restrictions about their use. Law enforcement officials tout the benefits of the initiative, reporting that it helps with recruitment/retention and decreases wear and tear on the equipment. What do you think about this practice? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Is there the potential for abuse with this policy?

• Absolutely officers should take vehicles home. It provides greater visibility of police presence; it provides faster response times in the event of emergency and is a perk of the job. I’ve had multiple jobs that we were able to take a company vehicle home. — Jeff Baughman
• Presence and visibility mean everything in law enforcement. Take-home vehicles reduce response times to critical incidents, protect neighborhoods where they are parked, reduce aggressive driving on community streets and are visible to potential threats. The officer’s office is ready to go to work immediately, which is efficient, especially in today’s high cost of operation. The benefits surpass the costs, for sure. — Matthew Bollinger
• We had a car parked in our driveway for years. I felt safe and so did our neighbors. — Dina Tartaglio Alexander
• One hundred percent. They should be able to take home their duty vehicles. Their duty vehicles are their second homes; it’s an office on wheels. It’s very beneficial to them and us, the public. They deserve it for what they do for us, the community. — Wayne Allen Whitney
• Yes, especially Middletown police. — Michael Charles
• Are you OK with paying the Middletown police to drive giant SUVs back and forth to Smyrna each day, even the ones who do not live in Smyrna? — Dante Sylvestri
• Yes, sir. They don’t drive giant SUVs. They have the small Ford Explorers now. Fuel-efficient. — Michael Charles
• My thing is the safety. I wouldn’t want people knowing where I live as a cop. — Casey Parker
• All those who want police to have their own vehicles in areas that don’t already, get ready for a huge tax hike. I don’t get a take-home vehicle, and I have to leave my home for emergency situations. — Keith Long
• Absolutely not! I have to drive to work every day. Why not them? I use my gas. Why not them? Cops get enough freebies. — Rick White