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City’s PD feeling the fuel pinch
WESLACO — Businesses, consumers and even charitable organizations continue to feel the pain as prices continue to soar at the fuel pumps.
Add to that list the Weslaco Police Department. During a recent city commission meeting, commissioners voted to amend the police department's fuel budget by moving $61,000 from the city's general fund to pay for fuel for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30.
Weslaco Police Capt. Raul Vallejo hopes this money will cover gas expenses the rest of fiscal year, saying that the department could fall short again before the end of the fiscal year should fuel prices continue their climb.
"We hope the fuel cost doesn't go up anymore," he said.
Vallejo said the department originally budgeted $130,000 for fuel this fiscal year and that at current prices, the department spends approximately $20,000 each month on fuel for its vehicles.
From a route standpoint, Vallejo said policemen haven't changed how they do their jobs around the city to cut on gas.
But one luxury the department has been forced to cut is the practice of allowing officers to take their patrol cars home at the conclusion of their shift. Now, only on-call officers go home with the cars.
Vallejo said the department would be forced to ask the commission for additional funding should prices continue to rise, adding that the department could also have to cut spending in other areas to compensate for fuel costs.
"We do get frustrated because it limits us on other projects," Vallejo said. "There's only a certain amount of money the city has for us."
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| Don't forget the high ranking Fire Fighters as well. really those in Administration and the Fire Marshall who also take home and drive around using city fuel in city bought vehicles. |
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| low moral fire fighter - Jul 12, 2008 05:47:23 PM | Remove Comment |
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| How can you cut back expenses at WPD? Stop wasting money on training and resources that benefit a few or will never be used. Start spending on items that will benefit the entire department and on realistic training for ALL the officers. Maybe what the department needs is a morale survey and a management survey. |
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| copWidea - Jul 09, 2008 09:50:38 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Wont the officers sue if you put them on bicycles? I heard the officers fighting the fitness exams are suing and are going to get a settlement. |
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| They will sue - Jul 09, 2008 09:40:58 PM | Remove Comment |
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| There are many city employees who should not, and do not need to take home vehicles. This issue should be corrected from the top to the bottom, not vice versa. There should be an evaluation of which departments need take home cars and which ones dont. Fire and Police should be a priority since they involve public safety, this is common sense, not rocket science. The idea of having a full time bicycle patrol unit is a good idea. |
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| WesLoco - Jul 06, 2008 10:39:02 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Why not have a full time bicycle unit to increase overall fitness, to establish a better relationship with the citizens, and to reduce petty crimes and burglaries in the neighborhoods. This would literally save tens of thousands of dollars on fuel. The department already has several police bicycles just sitting collecting dust. |
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| copwidea - Jul 06, 2008 05:44:50 PM | Remove Comment |
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| How many thousands of dollars were spend on fuel, lodging, and meals in order to tow that tank and military tow truck in from another state Vallejo? Who wanted that stuff. Someone is lying because the patrol officers have never taken their patrol vehicles home. The only ones who take their assigned vehicles home every day are high ranking police officers. |
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| TruthInW - Jul 06, 2008 05:25:42 PM | Remove Comment |
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| This is obsurd. An police investigator responding to a crime scene like a homicide should not have to drive his own car. No wonder no one wants to be cops anymore. |
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| concerned - Jul 05, 2008 10:41:31 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Vallejo commenting on expenditures at WPD? The department has spend thousands of dollars for his training that he never uses. He is the one who needs to leave his take home car behind since he can never be found. Oh yeah, he also needs to quit spending department budgeted monies to buy stuff like broken down tanks, ice cream vendor style vans, antique tow trucks, deer blinds, World War II rifles. The detectives have been leaving their cars behind for years, even though THEY are on call 24 7. The department has already wasted enough money because of you vallejo. |
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| WBB - Jul 05, 2008 10:35:48 PM | Remove Comment |
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| the city manager should leave his car at city hall also instead of making money on the side using the city car |
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| SOLDIER - Jul 03, 2008 04:58:17 PM | Remove Comment |
