Can police purchase their own cars?

[MrTangent]

I was having a discussion with a friend who said a friend of theirs was a Missouri Highway Patrolman and purchased his own police car (that he drove home each night). I find it hard to believe given police salaries. Also, who would be responsible for insurance? What about the equipment (lights, sirens, radio equipment, etc.)? Do they get re-compensated?

Have you heard of such a thing?

[Citicop]

I know plenty of highway patrolmen in Missouri.

They are issued take home cars, but must drive the department owned vehicle.

I have never heard of a cop driving a personally owned patrol car on the job.

-Citicop.

[MrTangent]

I know plenty of highway patrolmen in Missouri.

They are issued take home cars, but must drive the department owned vehicle.

I have never heard of a cop driving a personally owned patrol car on the job.

-Citicop.

I thought it strange too. Thanks for the reply. I think this person might have had their leg pulled, or maybe the original highway patrolman purchased their retired patrol car at an auction.

[retdetsgt]

Honolulu PD used to have officers buy their own cars and then the city would lease them from them. I don't know if they still do that or not.

[Legoate]

I know Honolulu PD did it as retdetsgt said. I believe they still do. As far as other agencies, I have no idea.

Not sure why you'd want to. As it is now if I use my car as a battering ram, I can turn it in and get a shiny new one out of the lot.

[Creeker]

I don't know if they still do... kinda doubt it... but when I went thru our Basic Academy in 1983, there was a guy with Graniteville PD... a tiny town near the Ga/SC border that gave their Cops an allowance to buy their own. The Cop I was there with drove an old Nova and had it souped up to the nine's.

I can't imagine in this day and age with State Purchasing available now that they would still do that.

Uhhhh.... just googled it and apparently Graniteville no longer has a PD.

[retdetsgt]

When I was a kid, several counties in Texas and Arizona had deputies purchase their own vehicles. I can remember one deputy in Texas drove a black 1959 Ford Ranchero with souped up engine. He had an antenna on the back of that thing that was 25 ft. long, I bet. When I lived in Cochise county Arizona, the resident deputy there also had a souped up '59 Ford. Not much danger of him doing any damage to it, I can't recall him ever doing any police action.

[DeltaV]

Honolulu PD still does it and I belive that Hawaii County PD does it as well. There's a list of approved vehicles that can be purchased and the department gives the officer a subsidy each month to pay for the vehicle. The department installs all the electronics and rudimentary lighting. The officer does have to purchase their own insurance, however the county's insurance also provides them some coverage when on duty.

[mcsap]

I would never use my own car or my own gun.

LIABILITY

[retdetsgt]

I would never use my own car or my own gun.

LIABILITY

My dept indemnifies you totally when you're on duty. We never had to worry the liability of about using our own guns. In fact, we were required to furnish our own until about 20 years ago. Even after they furnished weapons, most guys carried their own, it was new hires that got the issued guns although anyone could qualify for one. I wouldn't want to work anyplace where they didn't cover us.

In addition, if we are off duty and start a police action of any kind, we are immediately considered on duty for purposes of indemnity protection. The only judgment the city can't pay is punitive damages and I've never heard of that being asked of nor awarded to a plaintiff suing the police here. And I doubt using your own car or gun is going to come into play for awarding that.

If Honolulu has been been doing this for this many years, I suspect that problem has already arisen and been taken care of.

I couldn't imagine doing this job where I might be left out to dry on a lawsuit. I might get canned, but the city would still cover any awards based on my actions. I've seen them do that.

[Creeker]

I carried my own Ruger Service Six for years with both my Agencies, until they switched over to the S&W 4046 semi-autos.

With the first Agency, I was issued a S&W model 10 that had seen 20 years service already. While making just over minimum wage at the time, I think I had replaced that within the first month or so.

My other Agency issued me a S&W .357 that had a safety built into the cylinder release, and the safety had a mind of its own. I started carrying my Ruger within the first week on the street.

With both Agencies, we were only required to get written permission, and then qualify with it.

I knew a guy who actually carried his own .41 mag, but I'm not certain it was condoned.

[DeltaV]

I would never use my own car or my own gun.

LIABILITY

My department allows the use of personally owned firearms, however in order to get them approved they have to be inspected by the armorer. He makes sure there are no modifications other than things like grips, finish, and sites. No trigger mods, different barrels, etc.

If you pull the trigger in a use of force situation and were in the wrong, you're going to be on the hook for liability no matter whose gun you are using. If you're in the right then you have qualified immunity based upon your position, not who owns your equipment.

[retdetsgt]

If you pull the trigger in a use of force situation and were in the wrong, you're going to be on the hook for liability no matter whose gun you are using. If you're in the right then you have qualified immunity based upon your position, not who owns your equipment.

That pretty well sums it up, good post.

When I started, we had to buy either a Colt or S&W .38 or .357 mag. revolver with a minimum 4" barrel. Even though you could carry a .357, you had to use city issue .38 ammo.

In the late 80's, we were given the choice of the above or a .45 semi and for a while you could carry damn near any make or model. In the early 90's, they settled for the Glock and started issuing them. You could still carry your own, but it had to be a model 21 or 17. Plain clothes could carry a model 19. Then they dropped the 21 and went to 9 mm only.

I do remember a big flap when an amateur gunsmith on the department started messing with people's revolver trigger pulls and several were made so light they didn't always fire. That's when we got the position of armorer in the training division and he had to approve any repairs or changes made to your weapon. But who owned the gun has never been a matter of dispute.

[brog0000]

I recently bought this one, drive it every day. She runs good and is reliable.

[kels]

Thank god the agencies furnish the vehicles here, I would hate to drive anything I owned
around in the dark. Lets see, in the last 9 years, I have bumped 6 cows, at least 3 deer and
we dont count possums and armadillos any more.

As for duty weapons, we still get to buy our own.
Thats why I DONT own a GLOCK.
(zipping up flame suit and running for cover)