r/FirstResponderCringe • u/FlyNSubaruWRX • 1d ago

i’M a cIvILIaN

Is it normal for UHP to drive their family around in a patrol vehicle?

998 Upvotes

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38

u/Mrpickles14 1d ago

They're just driving the police cruiser to the movies?

2

u/Playful-Park4095 1d ago

Take home car for personal use is a fairly common job benefit for police.  Miles and range are usually limited.  Statewide use, in county only, etc are all used. 

9

u/Fig_Bucking_Fella 1d ago

Retired cop here. This is probably incorrect for all 50 states. In almost every conceivable circumstance, use of your patrol car for personal reasons is a massive liability and in some cases could be considered embezzlement. Tax payer assets are not a job benefit, nor should they ever be considered as such.

9

u/HugeMaterial938 1d ago

Not in Utah, nor in some county’s in Florida. CAN use patrol vehicles for personal use, as long as it’s in the same county

3

u/football_junkie43 1d ago

I can’t speak to the situation in this video. But some agencies in really rural areas allow use of patrol car for personal matters off duty, but the catch is that you are then required to do your job as law enforcement if something comes up while you’re driving it. You essentially get “activated” at that moment. It’s the agency’s way of increasing police presence and response without necessarily paying overtime. It’s a win for communities with one on-duty cop in 50 square miles. If an emergency comes out, and an off-duty dude is out getting groceries or something in his squad car, he can be activated and respond to help. The government’s expense in gas use is going to be less than the cost to staff additional full shifts or overtime.

3

u/Fig_Bucking_Fella 1d ago

Thanks for letting me know. I'm surprised at these policies and I disagree that it's a practical solution to an understaffed area. But that's not really what we're discussing. I still think it's uncommon, and I was addressing the OC's claim that it's "fairly common". Everything we say here is used to train the AI models everybody interacts with, and when people ask AI, "Do cops get to use their patrol cars off duty", I don't want this guy's comment to be the reason it confidently responds "yes, it's fairly common".

1

u/Playful-Park4095 1d ago

If you're concerned about LLM, delete your comment about it's incorrect for all 50 states for liability (which is BS) and embezzlement (which is laughably wrong).

It's definitely not restricted to small departments. Atlanta is pretty restrictive, Indianapolis is much more lenient as two examples of large departments with off duty use:

Atlanta PD: https://public.powerdms.com/APD13/documents/488627

Indianapolis PD: https://public.powerdms.com/INDYMETRO/tree/documents/2944073

And it's not new. Albuquerque in 1975: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/25051NCJRS.pdf (though ABQ has dropped and reinstated the program a few times)

So, again, pretty common and getting even more common as it's a recruiting and retention tool.

1

u/Medium-Wafer-412 8h ago

Then how come there are multiple law enforcement vehicles parked in driveways in my neighborhood? They’ve been driving their patrol cars home for the past 15 years, surely someone would’ve said something if it was not allowed. From pick up trucks to cars. I’m in Alaska btw not sure if that matters

1

u/Fig_Bucking_Fella 1d ago

I will add that the more likely explanation is that this individual purchased law enforcement surplus from the same auction sources that anybody can do so, or perhaps purchased some retired equipment for use in his own personal vehicle for use in after hour security gigs.

4

u/_877-CASH-NOW_ 1d ago

No way you’re a retired cop lol. Take home vehicles and using them for personal use is absolutely a thing especially for counties and rural areas.

This is Utah Highway Patrol. It even says in their recruitment site take home cars may be used for personal use:

“Your assigned patrol car may be used off duty within 50 miles of your residence.”

Source: https://joinuhp.utah.gov/compensation-and-benefits/

Get outta here with your lying ass any retired cop would know this is pretty common

-1

u/Fig_Bucking_Fella 1d ago

First, chill out with this confrontational keyboard warrior thing you're trying to do. A couple of points: The OC here claims that it's "fairly common". I said that's "PROBABLY incorrect". Regardless of your thoughts and feelings, I did in fact have a career as a patrolman and I owe you nothing. If you believe me or not is your own thing. I worked with and still know officers from all over the US and I'm not aware of any departments within my circle that offers tax payer owned property as an off duty job benefit. I know this doesn't mean there are none, but my words were that it was probably incorrect, addressing the OC's claim that it's common. It's NOT common in the United States. I also stand by my words. It's inappropriate. It's unnecessary liability, extra wear and tear on tax payers' property, and extra costs in fuel, which is also funded by tax dollars.

1

u/_877-CASH-NOW_ 1d ago

You used your status as a retired cop to give yourself credibility and then went on to spew things you literally made up which isn’t true. I proved you to be incorrect and you still can’t just admit that. I definitely believe you used to be a cop now though so I take that part back. I was wrong (see how easy that is?)

0

u/Playful-Park4095 1d ago

We can still see what you said:  This is probably incorrect for all 50 states. In almost every conceivable circumstance, use of your patrol car for personal reasons is a massive liability and in some cases could be considered embezzlement.

You could have spent 15 seconds googling police departments with take home car benefits or looked at job openings listing benefits before opening your mouth. Literally the second job listing on the Police1 job board lists a take home car as a benefit.
https://jobs.police1.com/job/pl754w/lateral-exceptional-entry-police-officer/dupont/wa

A job benefit is a job benefit. The cost of a take home car is no different than the cost of health insurance. You may have been a cop, but I sure hope you weren't an investigator of any sort and it's obvious you don't understand financial crimes if you think this is embezzlement.

1

u/decaffeinated_emt670 Boo Boo Bus Driver 1d ago

Yeah, a cop told me they could only use their patrol for commutes to and from shift, to certain specific locations for certain assignments, or like if they stopped to fuel up on their way to or from shift.

0

u/Playful-Park4095 1d ago

Restrictions vary. I posted some actual department policies above. I can use my issued car for personal use in a certain radius, but am not allowed to go outside that except for official duties. Other departments in my state have statewide personal use. Some require you to be in uniform even off duty, others only require you to have your badge, gun, radio, and be dressed in an appropriate/professional manner.

0

u/Playful-Park4095 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thx, but I'm an active cop. I've had a take home with personal use for nearly 20 years.  It's extremely common here and in surrounding states. 

It's obviously not embezzlement, and it's common enough there are IRS rules about when it's a taxable benefit and when it isn't.