Police take a bite out of fuel costs

J. Craig Anderson

Friday, Dec. 23, 2005 | 7:27 a.m.

Metro Police have lately espoused a new motto: "To protect and conserve."

When rising gasoline prices threatened to bust Metro's budget in September, management implemented a program to reduce the cost and usage of gasoline, spokesman Bill Cassell said.

As a result, police have managed to cut the department's fuel usage by nearly 10 percent and save taxpayers more than $100,000 a month, he said.

"We ended up with some surprisingly interesting fuel savings," Cassell said.

As of Oct. 1, Metro ordered all personnel to shop around for the cheapest gasoline prices, diligently check tire pressure to ensure the most economical ride and turn off patrol car engines whenever possible.

As a result, it has decreased its monthly fuel consumption from about 150,000 gallons in September to 136,000 gallons in November. Monthly costs have dropped from $411,902 to $308,825 during that time.

Some of the savings can be attributed to falling gasoline prices, but shopping around for the best deals has made a notable difference, Cassell said.

"It shows the public that those of us at Metro are trying hard to save the taxpayer dollars," he said.

Metro used to purchase fuel directly from the municipalities it serves, just as Henderson and North Las Vegas police do. But more than a decade ago, Metro officials realized that because they serve such a vast area, police were wasting more money driving to the municipalities' limited fueling sites than they were saving from the reduced cost.

Cassell said Metro initially switched to a single fuel distributor, but in 1998 implemented a system whereby police officers were issued a credit card that could be used to purchase gasoline at any retail station.

Now officers are encouraged to keep an eye on the tank and buy fuel whenever they see a good price, not simply when they're low on gasoline, he said.

In addition, police have been told to turn off the engine when they are handling a call or filling out paperwork inside the vehicle. The only exceptions are K-9 units, which must leave heaters or air conditioners running to keep the dogs comfortable.

The new directive required changing a longstanding practice of running the engine at all times.

During winter months, that means sacrificing warmth for the sake of conserving fuel. Still, Metro Police Protective Association Executive Director David Kallas said he has not heard any complaints about the new rules.

North Las Vegas Police always have been taught to shut off engines at an extended stop, spokesman Sean Walker said.

Police waiting along roads where drivers' speeds are closely watched are the exception, he said, but they rarely have to wait more than a minute before a speeder passes by.

Although many consumers do not track their gasoline spending as carefully as police departments do, Cassell said, Metro's recent savings should demonstrate to anyone the significant savings possible by taking a few easy steps.

"If the police department can do it, maybe other people can do it," he said.

J. Craig Anderson can be reached at 259-2320 or at craig@lasvegassun.com.