The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Police cruisers breaking down is safety issue
Lorain police cars are breaking down on the job and the city needs to act, according to the police union president.
The Fraternal Order of Police Lorain Lodge No. 3 has filed a grievance over three recent car breakdowns — including one that happened as officers were pursuing “a violent felon.”
“The city of Lorain is failing to correct unsafe working conditions by providing unsafe patrol vehicles,” said the grievance filed by FOP President Kyle Gelenius. “The cruisers are unsafe, hazardous and are at risk of harm, injury, death or other liability to officers and the public at large.”
The city administration has worked with Lorain police command staff to determine what cars the Police Department needs.
Once the Department finishes the wish list, the police and administration will work out what the city actually can afford, said SafetyService Director Dan Given.
Police cars can reach prices ranging from $30,000 to $54,000, Given said.
“The grievance doesn’t need to be filed to bring this to our attention,” he said.
In discussions for the 2019 budget, it was the administration that cut out money for new police cars, but suggested the possibility of borrowing money mid-year, Gelenius said.
Now, Lorain is at the end of August, he said.
The situation can hurt residents because if they call for police, there is a greater risk if officers’ response is delayed, Gelenius said.
“I hope to God none of my members are hurt driving these junkers,” he said.
Gelenius documented three incidents starting late last week.
• Aug. 22, a patrol car broke down and started smoking while an officer was responding to a reported medical emergency.
• Aug. 26, a patrol car broke in the jail gate while transporting a prisoner. The breakdown prevented an officer from going to a pursuit “of a violent felon who had been terrorizing his girlfriend with a gun for the past two days.”
• Aug. 27, a patrol car stalled and the cabin started filling with smoke when an officer was attempting to get to a reported fight in progress.
The police union is asking the city to stop providing unsafe cars and remove the old cruisers from the fleet once they reach about 100,000 miles.
The city needs to take immediate steps to replace the aging fleet, Gelenius’ grievance said.
The paperwork included photos and an Aug. 27 emailed note from Patrolman David Rees, who was driving car No. 130 when it quit running and started smoking.
“My assigned car has been laid up now for almost two weeks for multiple issues so I’ve been driving whatever I can find,” Rees said.
After driving the car 130 for about 1 ½ hours, Rees was on the way to the fight when the engine failed.
Gelenius also used the social media platform Twitter to post a photo of Lorain police cruiser No. 101 being pulled up onto a flatbed truck to be taken for repair.
There also is brief footage of a Lorain police officer popping the hood of the cruiser with steam or smoke coming out from under it.
The police union filed the grievance Aug. 28.
It will be reviewed by the division commander and Lorain police Chief Cel Rivera before heading to Given’s desk.
It was unclear exactly when city officials will take action.
The police union grievance form has a Sept. 11 deadline and Given said he expects City Council in September will consider a proposal to buy cars.
In spring 2017, the police union also went public with concerns about high-mileage police cars with engine problems.
In June 2017, City Council had discussions about spending $150,000 a year on new police cars and sport-utility vehicles.
The city ordered new police cars and Given said he believed those arrived in March 2018.
The city’s 2019 budget included a Police Department line item of $200,000 for garage auto parts and labor.
That shows the city is spending more money on repairs than it would cost to lease new cars under warranty, Gelenius said.
“The powers that be in this city are continuing to kick the can down the road,” he said.