Police Required To Pay To Fill Up Patrol Cars

One Upstate city wants some police officers to pay up to fill up their gas tanks. The reason? High gas prices.

Abbeville city manager Nolan Wiggins says taxpayers came to city council asking questions. Wiggins says, “When they go to fill up and it's costing 70-80 dollars to fill their tank up, they probably, as a taxpayer, are concerned we've (city police have) got 18-19 vehicles that are being driven home.”

The city of Abbeville allows police officers to drive their patrol cars home. But starting this summer, officers who live outside the city will have to pay for miles driven beyond city limits. Wiggins says, "Council has a concern about the cost of fuel with these take home cars."

Abbeville city police officers are only allowed to drive from work to home and back in their patrol cars. The new policy charges an officer 15 cents per mile driven outside the city limits. Wiggins says Abbeville has about 13 officers who live outside the city. That's an estimated savings for the city of about $183 a month.

Four years ago Abbeville Police started allowing officers to take their patrol vehicles home. The city manager says that made a big difference in keeping officers on the force. Wiggins says, "It's a lot cheaper if you can retain the people you already have."

Wiggins says he does not think officers who live outside the city will quit because of the new fuel policy. He adds, “Most live fairly close, so I don't think it's going to affect them too much." Plus, he says Abbeville is not the only city or county trying to find ways to save at the pump. Wiggins says, "Obviously with fuel staying around $3 or $3.50 (per gallon), you'll probably see other agencies doing this."

Abbeville also has plans to track fuel costs by installing GPS units in city vehicles. The system will show where the cars are being driven. Wiggins says the $10,000 system will help them with maintenance, fuel efficiency, and the best routes for city vehicles.

We checked with other Upstate law enforcement agencies to find out if officers have to pay out of pocket for fuel. The Greenville County and Anderson County Sheriffs’ Offices make deputies pay for gas, if they live outside the county. The city of Greenville picks up the tab for officers who live in Greenville County and up to 10 miles beyond the county line. And Anderson Police can only take their cars home if they live in the city. Officers in Anderson do not have to pay for the cost of fuel.