Lorain police cars must be updated

Lorain police must have the proper equipment to do its job of serving and protecting residents and visitors in the International City. And having vehicles on the road that are outdated and in need of major repairs is not the way to ensure safety.

Last month, a Lorain squad car with a blown transmission slowed officers as they were chasing an alleged robber.

That incident prompted the Fraternal Order of Police Lorain Lodge No. 3 to seek the ruling of an independent arbiter as the union pushes for the city administration to update the aging fleet of cruisers.

The union claimed the city violated the police work contract by failing to provide safe working conditions for officers.

Lorain Deputy Safety-Service Director Derek Feuerstein ruled the condition of the vehicles does not violate the contract.

However, the union is well within its rights to continue its challenge for more modern cruisers.

Fraternal Order of Police President Kyle Gelenius sent a letter to the city administration saying, “The FOP feels that the city is being highly disingenuous by refusing to acknowledge that the aging and decrepit emergency patrol fleet is unsafe and thus, is violating the collective bargaining agreement.”

The police union seems to have an argument when its members say high-mileage cars are hampering officers as they patrol Lorain and chase down suspects.

In fact, union officials said that happened at least once Jan. 27, when Officer Jamie Ball and his canine partner were on duty in cruiser No. 127, a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria, also known as a police interceptor, with at least 123,000 miles on it.

In a letter to the city administration, Gelenius said while on duty, Ball advised the dispatcher to take him out of service because the transmission in his cruiser had blown.

Ball said he would “creep back to the station,” and while he was driving there, police received a report of a suspect robbing the Family Dollar and a woman outside the store at 1820 Broadway.

Only a block away, Ball went to the store to investigate.

Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Officer Cielo Rodriguez spotted a man matching the description of the suspect and began a foot pursuit.

Gelenius said when Ball heard Rodriguez’ call for assistance, he went to help, but his cruiser would not go faster than 20 mph, delaying his response.

In the chase, Rodriguez slipped and fell in a muddy front yard of a home in the 1500 block of Long Avenue. He briefly lost sight of the suspect and was alone while waiting for Ball to arrive, Gelenius said.

Rodriguez then spotted the suspect and kept him contained until Ball arrived and they took the man into custody.

We agree with Gelenius that incidents such as this are needlessly placing officers in danger.

Gelenius said, “An unsafe emergency patrol fleet will continue to place my members in jeopardy, as well as the general public.”

The Fraternal Order of Police credited Mayor Chase Ritenauer for pursuing ways to finance new cruisers, but said Lorain City Council has not shown any leadership and remains “obstinate in addressing the financial needs of the police department.”

Gelenius contends the city’s failure to ensure that all Lorain police officers have safe vehicles is repugnant and is a clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement.

In the arbitration process, the union intends to subpoena Lorain Council members to explain why they feel the police cruisers are safe.

Lorain isn’t the only Lorain County municipality that has struggled with aging police cruisers.

In Elyria, voters approved a tax increase in March 2016 that included paying for new police cars.

Elyria had an embarrassing moment Feb. 21, 2016, when during a high-speed chase led by Elyria police officers was taken over by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers after three different Elyria cruisers broke down in the middle of the pursuit.

And it should not come as a surprise the Elyria cruisers broke down. Two of the squad cars were purchased used and the other was a 2004 model.

As for Lorain’s cruiser No. 127, it remains in park.

Because of the car’s age, it’s unclear if the city would pay to replace the transmission.

Council must explore ways to provide reliable and safer vehicles for law enforcement to do its job, which is protecting and serving the people in the city of Lorain.