Take home cars, but living in apartments

[studentcj]

so a very good friend of mine has recently graduated from a police academy in Texas, and his agency gives all patrol officers their own marked vehicles. He personally likes the idea of having his own vehicle but he also has some concerns because he lives in apartments and prefers that everyone not now what he does for work. He is also conerned that the vehicle may get vandalized. He lives in nice apartments but there are nutcases every where. He hopes to buy a house in the next 18-24 months

do you like the idea of take home cars if the officer lives in apartments

[Piggy]

I don't think it matters if you have a take home car. Everyone in the neighborhood is going to know he's a cop no matter where he lives. He should probably get used to it.

[MountainMan]

If it were me I would park it at a substation near where they live and commute. People will know what you do eventually. It keeps the squad from getting vandalized. Which is the best way to keep a takehome

[Legoate]

When I had a take home car I left it at the station and drove my own car home. A friend of mine parked his on the street and it was vandalized several times. I didn't need that headache. Another officer had his newly issued shotgun ripped out of the lock in the front of the car.

[ChesCopPodz]

I lived in apartments all 5 years I spent at my old department. The take home was only ever vandalized once, but I actually came out ahead. My old department gives rookies an older car, then when that one goes, you get another older car. Usually the third vehicle an officer gets is the first time he gets a brand new one. They figure that new rookies will wreck within their first couple years, and they'd rather it be an old beater car.

Anyways, I had just traded my first cruiser in for my second old cruiser. The "new" car looked like crap with scratches all over the paint job. Well it got keyed within 2 weeks of having it. So I got a nice shiny new paint job on it. That was the only time in 5 years that one of my cruisers ever got vandalized.

And yes, having everyone in your little slice of the apartment complex (in my case a cul-de-sac with 4 buildings) know you're a cop can be a PITA. I arrested 2 neighbors, and had a half dozen more come ask questions.

[DeltaV]

He is also conerned that the vehicle may get vandalized.

Who cares? He's not going to have to pay to get it fixed.

[studentcj]

Who cares? He's not going to have to pay to get it fixed.

who cares? He cares