Information - Police Vehicle Idling Memo

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Issue: Police Vehicle Idling. I have spent some time researching the running of parked squad cars. I initially thought a quick fix to the issue would be to simply instruct the officers to shut the cars off when parked. My research has altered my response to this issue. Here is a list of some of my findings: • Police vehicles need to be ready to go at a moments notice. If turned off in freezing weather the windows fog up and freeze over quickly. This could delay response time or make driving hazardous. • Technology needs power. Computer, video equipment, radio, GPS, light and siren system all run on electric power. If a vehicle is not running the power comes from the one battery which also is used for starting the vehicle. The battery is charging only when the vehicle is running. Police vehicles need to start every time the key is turned. Leaving the equipment on with the vehicle turned off could jeopardize the starting of the squad. • The vehicle is the officer's office. It takes about 10 minutes to boot up and check the electronic equipment when an officer begins their shift. This equipment must be ready to go at a moments notice to respond to an emergency. • Vehicle battery. Squads use "glass -mat" type batteries with a cost of around $300 each. These batteries are designed specifically for emergency vehicles. All the departments in our area use this style of battery. Life expectancy is 1 to 2 years. (Side note: Interstate Battery warranty on any of their batteries is void if placed in a squad car.) Police vehicles use up lots of power and wear down batteries much faster than regular cars. EnergyXtreme is a company out of Texas that manufactures a power management system that operates all the electronics in a police vehicle. This allows for engine shut down without shutting down the emergency equipment. Cost of the unit starts at $3500. • Costs. About one half gallon of gas is used for every hour idling a squad. If left idling for 2 hours a day the cost is a gallon of gas. Conclusion: My research explains why the vehicles run. It also found it to be standard procedure for many law enforcement departments.... State, Counties, Cities. It seems to be the cost of doing business. The last thing we would want in an emergency is to have a Police vehicle malfunction due to a dead battery. Scott Pederson Councilor, City of Pequot Lakes