Current officers with the Albuquerque Police Department regained their ability to take patrol vehicles home regardless of where they live, under the terms of a settlement announced by Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry.
The move reversed a Jan. 1 policy that restricted the take-home car program to officers who live within an 11-mile radius from the Big I freeway interchange, reports Government Fleet.
However, officers hired after July 1, who live outside city limits, won't be eligible for the take-home vehicle privilege. The move is expected to save the city more than $600,000.
In exchange for revisions to the take-home car program, the APOA gave up retention bonuses for veteran officers (costing about $750,000 annually), loan reimbursements (costing $83,000), and mortgage incentives for signing a seven-year commitment (costing $98,000).
"I am proud of my public safety team who worked tirelessly to come up with solutions that will save millions. This is good for taxpayers and it solves the long term policy issue by prohibiting take-home cars for new officers outside of the city limits," Mayor Berry said.
