CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Conway Police Department is proposing a new incentive that would allow Class One officers to bring their patrol cars home, which they say would help their staffing problem at the department.
According to the Conway Police Chief, Dale Long, many other neighboring agencies already allow their officers to bring their patrol cars home after their shift. By permitting this at the Conway Police Department, it could help prevent more officers from leaving, and may also help bring new officers in.
“For retention purposes, having a take-home vehicle is a real, tangible benefit, says Chief Long. “Even though it may not factor into your pay, it is still definitely something that you’ll be able to tell because you don’t have to pay for a commute back and forth to work.”
As a part of the policy, Conway officers would be required to drive their patrol cars when attending Church, going to school events for their children, and even to the grocery store after work. Chief Long says this would not only help the officers save money, but would also provide a benefit to the community.
“I think that it serves as a really good deterrent, especially with some of the issues that we have going on at Churches and at schools, that it serves to give notice that there are police here,” says Chief Long.
The idea was discussed at a Conway City Council workshop Monday night. The proposal will need to be formally listed on a council agenda, where the city will then vote on it at a future meeting.