Published: May 18, 2008 12:32 am      

Commission challenges sheriff’s policy on patrol cars

Goad also meets resistance regarding response team funds

Allegany County Sheriff David Goad could reconsider his office’s policy of allowing deputies to take their assigned patrol cars to their home locations, even if they reside outside of their jurisdiction.

That policy, and Goad’s Sheriff’s Response Team, came under scrutiny Thursday during the county commissioners’ work session with Goad.

Goad and two deputies attended the meeting to address next year’s proposed budget for the Sheriff’s Office and this year’s departmental budget woes. Goad’s office is projected to be nearly $300,000 over the budget the commissioners approved this time last year.

“I do have a problem with deputies taking cars to West Virginia (and) Garrett County,” Commissioner Jim Stakem said.

Six live outside of Allegany County, including four in West Virginia and two in Garrett County. The deputy who travels the longest distance from home to work lives in Mountain Lake Park. Jerry Frantz, county director of finance, said to the commissioners in an April 25 memorandum that the sheriff’s office spends nearly $8,000 in commuting costs.

“In this area, it is felt that deputy vehicle usage of commuting should be either eliminated or reduced drastically,” Frantz wrote.

Stakem supported that position on Thursday, noting the officers have no jurisdiction in the areas in which they live and put the responsibility of the officers’ home locations on them.

“I think we’re talking about a lot of money,” Stakem said. “They made their decision to live” outside Allegany County.

Goad countered that deputies were not required to live inside the county. Additionally, he said it’s “a proven fact” that having the patrol cars on the road and at the home locations serves as a deterrent to criminal activity.

A patrol car is an officer’s office, Goad said, and saves time when an officer responds to an incident from his home location. If the policy were to change, an officer would have to travel from home to Cumberland and then respond to an area in a patrol car — additional time, he said, in a possible emergency.

Goad also said he verified the insurance coverage. If something happens to a patrol car outside of Allegany County, it’s covered whether in a work-related incident or not.

He said he is willing to re-evaluate the policy. “It’s something we can talk further” about, Goad said.

In his proposed budget, Goad asked for $61,463 in capital outlay, including $10,400 for tactical body armor for SRT members. Frantz, in his April 25 correspondence, argued against such an expense.

“It is our position that no SRT expenditures are to be funded and that any SWAT situations be the responsibility of the (Maryland State Police),” Frantz wrote.

Goad said county residents shouldn’t rely on the state police. While it is an “extremely proficient unit,” it can take up to four hours to arrive on location.

“I don’t think anybody wants to wait four hours,” Goad said.

Lt. Rodney Bell, SRT commander, justified the team’s existence and its role in high-risk takedowns.

When C3I calls, Bell said, “this stuff’s happening right now. They don’t have time to wait for the state police team.”

The SRT has entered the city of Cumberland three times, Bell said. The commissioners asked if it was possible for the city, with similar equipment, to respond to high-risk situations in the county.

No, Goad said, because the county refused to sign a memorandum of understanding — which addresses insurance issues and reimbursements, if any — with the city.

“The county turned it down,” Goad said.

“We may have to reinvestigate that,” Commissioner Bob Hutcheson said.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.