City Making Efforts to Cut Costs
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City officials said like West Tennesseans at home, they are feeling the pinch in a tight economy and are taking measures to cut costs. “In years past those vehicles had been utilized for personal use,” said Deputy Chief Barry Michael of the Jackson Police Department. Deputy Chief Michael said their old car-take-home policy was based on old case studies which showed the patrol cars curbed crime and made the public feel safer. “Additionally, you had a patrol car out there on the street,” he adds. He said off-duty officers driving their patrol cars are required to respond if flagged down. “When we put that policy in place, gas wasn’t $4 a gallon,” he adds. With gas and maintenance prices soaring, as of a month ago, police said they are now enforcing a guideline allowing special officers and those with a certain rank to still take their patrol cars home, but once at home they must stay there. “No matter the costs we have to maintain an ever vigilant presence throughout the community,” said Jackson resident, James DiMarco. The fire department said to cut costs, they allow current employees to work from an overtime pool, instead of hiring new employees to replace retirees. “We’re not incurring benefits along with the expense of salaries,” said Chief James Pearson of the Jackson Fire Department.
