Earle PD hit with costly squad car repairs

City officials looking for options to pay for vehicle maintenance

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Earle is looking to clamp down on repair costs after running up close to $20,000 in repair bills in six months — just for the police department.

Mayor Sherman Smith said the repair bills typically run high in the summer, but added that the city can’t continue to spend that kind of money maintaining vehicles.

I’m not saying we don’t need the repairs,” Smith said. ‘But I don’t see where we can afford four cars.”

City Treasurer Cynthia Conner said as of August, expenses for the police department were $150,489. The department only brought in $46,011 in revenue for the year.

Smith pointed out that police departments never bring in enough revenue to cover their expenses, but agreed that they need to clamp down on spending.

“Police departments have never paid for themselves — nor should they have to,” Smith said. “I don’t believe in writing more tickets just to raise money. But there is enough activity going on to where they can generate some revenue to help take care of themselves. They need to meet us half way.”

Several council members warned that the spending was excessive and had to stop.

“We’ve got $18,000 in parts and repairs,” said Councilman Robert Malone. “They have got to take care of those cars. We have got to tighten up. The bills are through the roof.”

“He (Chief David Hallmark) should have come and talked to you,” Councilman Robert Udell added. Conner called the spending “ridiculous” and said the cars should be in better shape than they are.

“We just spent over $15,000 on maintenance of cars,” Conner said. “Those cars are 2009. They should be running like brand new to me. Everyone wants, wants, wants. We just can’t.”

The city bought three used police cars from the Arkansas Highway Police in 2016. The vehicles cost $3,600 each and had less than 113,000 miles on them.

Smith said he agrees that some of the cars need to be upgraded, but with the city’s finances being tight the police department will need to do a better job of taking care of the cars going forward.

“Things break down. I get that,” Smith said. “Do we need some upgrades?

I think we do. But one month I think we spent $6,500 on one car. A lot of those cars are pretty good cars. They were well maintained. And for what we use them for in Earle, they should still hold up.

If it is normal wear and tear, I understand. But let’s make sure it’s not neglect because buying four cars is not an option.”

In the meantime, Smith said he will check the state bidding list to see what is available for new cars. The city may also be able to apply for a grant from USDA to help them pay for some new police cars.

“I guess we can look around and see what is available,” Smith said. I know the USDA has some grants. A new car is going to cost at least $20,000 and we will still need to end up paying $6,000 or $7,000 of that cost. The state has some that are already bid on and you just go and sign up for them. We can look from that angle. But with the revenue I see coming in, we are just going to have to get real.”

Councilwoman Jimmie Barham said now is a good time to start looking because the council will be working on the budget soon and will know how much they can afford to spend.

“We know we are going to need some new vehicles,” Barham said. “So it is good to know this in October so we can plan. We still have time to think on that and what we think we can put in the budget.”

Udell said buying some used cars might also be an option.

“We might want to get some prices on two used ones,” Udell said.

Councilman Donnie Cheers said depending on the city’s finances, the police department may have to be told to wait until there is money for new cars.

“We may just have to say that we can’t afford it,” Cheers said. “That’s the bottom line.”

Smith agreed and said the police department will need to look on its end to bring in more money to help support itself “The police department isn’t supposed to take care of itself,” Smith said. “But there is the expectation that there will be a certain level that you can take in. When you don’t, you have to trim down and do with what you have until your money builds up. We’re not broke. But I don’t want to get there.

“In the meantime, we can look around and I will check with the USDA to see what our part of the cost would be. We might want to look at buying one new car and maybe two used ones.”