From Dan Nguyen:
On the SacPD's "Ask Officer Michelle" blog, Officer Michelle Lazark responds to a reader who asks why police officers leave their squad cars idle, whether they're in the vehicle writing reports or "getting to go or staying to have their java fixes", and if the practice is worth the "smog and cost of gas?"
Lazark responds with these points:
1. The squad cars "are like our offices" with many electronic devices that use the car battery.
2. To keep the cars at a relatively comfortable temperature while officers do their paperwork.
3. Most importantly, to be able to respond to calls quickly.
However, she does state that:
As far as leaving a squad car idling unattended, unless officers are involved in their course of duties (ie, foot pursuit, traffic stop, crime in progress, etc), there should be no reason they wouldn't turn their engines completely off.
To which Sherli, the reader, responds:
Thank you for taking the time to explain. But my original concern is now been validated. If the officer is not in his office for any lenght of time, the car should be turned off. I will keep your email and show it to the next officer I see leaving his patrol car idling for more than 10 minutes.
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