As rising fuel costs put the squeeze on law enforcement department budgets, chiefs and sheriffs are searching for ways to sustain their current level of operations while using less gasoline. Some are finding their solutions in differential responses to calls for service, modified patrol methods, and use of vehicles with improved gas mileage or alternative fuels.
With the average price of regular unleaded gasoline approaching $4.00 a gallon and no end to the increase in sight, departments across the country might not yet be feeling the pressure to drive less, but they certainly are taking notice of the impact on their budgets, especially as we head into the traditionally high-demand, price-increasing summer months. For those faced with the puzzle of how to meet the increasing demands on police services while minimizing fuel costs, there are no easy answers. Officers, particularly those who patrol and answer 911 calls, need cars, and cars need gasoline.
Our review of recent news coverage of higher fuel costs as well as conversations with a variety of law enforcement officials suggest that there are a number of ways that agencies can mitigate the impact on their agency budget. This article strives to highlight some short-term as well as potentially long-term solutions we found—an important consideration because gas is unlikely to return to the lower prices enjoyed in the past.
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http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/May_2008/fuel_costs.htm
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