By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Greenfield, MA) The Greenfield Police Department announced changes to department policies regarding their cruisers Wednesday afternoon as a result of the “financial and political realities that confront the Department.” The changes are effective as of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25th.
In their statement posted to social media, the Greenfield Police Department said they will be reducing the number of cruisers on the road by staffing two double-officer cruisers, rather than four single-officer cruisers. They will also be limiting idling to reduce fuel consumption and cruiser mileage “to trips that are absolutely necessary to our core mission as a police department.”
Response times for certain calls may be impacted as a result of the changes, although they will “give highest priority to life-threatening calls” and ensure the safety of “officers by sending no fewer than two officers to a call.”
The police department attributes the changes to “deep budget cuts imposed by the City Council, coupled with fuel costs that are approximately double what were budgeted.” The rising fuel costs have already impacted the department, leaving them with an estimated deficit of $25,000 for fiscal year 2022 and fuel costs are expected to continue rising.