Congratulations to Peachtree City Police Chief Clark for convincing the City Council that PTC should spend $31,941 taxpayer dollars to add a motorcycle to your already bulging inventory of police vehicles.
Earlier this year the chief was quoted as saying that his department had a total of 80 vehicles (Ford Explorers, Expeditions, F-Series pickup trucks, Crown Vics, Mustang GT, Chevy Caprices, Tahoes, ATVs, etc.). So, the new motorcycle makes it 81. More vehicles than personnel. (How many is enough?)
Justification presented to City Council to replace the current leased motorcycle with a city-purchased new motorcycle was telling. Facts and figures were touted as proof that it would be worth the cost.
Included was data stating that the motorcycle officer is responsible for writing 80 percent more citations and warnings than the average patrol officer during 291 percent more motorist contacts. Also, he is responsible for writing 15 times more citations and warnings than the average officer in school zones.
Now that’s a record any self-respecting police department can brag about. And, take note, a large portion of those tickets are written against PTC residents.
In addition, the motorcycle uses almost 70 percent less gas than a Crown Vic police patrol car.
So, the motorcycle is responsible for writing many more citations than the average patrol officer in a patrol car and it costs much less to operate.
Why isn’t Peachtree City purchasing more motorcycles and getting rid of some of its excess police cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles? (Consider that thought, City Council, later this year when the chief tells you he needs even more police cars.)
But, disturbingly, according to published information, the motorcycle will not be utilized for cart path patrols to curb and prevent the seemingly increasing incidents of crime that are of deep concern to citizens.
By the department’s own admission, as quoted in the The Citizen, it will only be used “to respond … to … cart path incident(s).” Not prevention.
Hey, Peachtree City. Here’s an idea. Why not spend more taxpayer dollars on, what else, a mounted patrol unit.
Yes, horses.
Think of it. Kudzu-eating, golf-cart-path-vegetation-clearing, money-saving, crime-preventing fast-response machines. Oh, the status. The PTC police could then reflect on the fact that they utilize just about every police transportation mode known to man.
Jeff Christian
Peachtree City, Ga.
