Protect and Serve the Environment?

Q: Dear GoGreeninStyle:

My husband and I went into my local coffee shop the other day and hung out for about an hour.  As we walked in, I noticed a police car was parked out front and running but no officer was in the car. It turns out, the officer was in the coffee shop having a cup of coffee. He was still there and the car was still running when we left. The car must have been running over an hour!  It makes me sick because I know he’s polluting but even worse- he’s wasting tax payer dollars.

Is there a good reason he’s leaving the car running?  What is going on?

Frustrated,

Amy

A: Dear Amy,

As Director of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta, I see this problem first hand all the time with our employees. I understand your sentiment. It is very frustrating.

I have asked a number of experts and here is what I’ve learned. Police have devices like computer that require the car to be running when in use. Often times you’ll see a policeman working on the computer with the car running. From what I can tell, that’s a legitimate reason.  Good news is that there is growing innovation in solar technology that will power such devices and allow for the car to be turned off.

Police departments and fire departments are steeped in tradition. Changing culture, habits and mindsets in these organizations is not easy.  Idling vehicles falls in the category of an old practice.  In the case of the behavior you witnessed, the explanation given is that the officer needed to have the car on in case he needed to respond immediately.  You probably think- turning the car on is instantaneous and won’t prevent him from responding immediately.  And you are correct.

The question becomes, how do we change the culture so that the myth is busted? My belief is that the top of the organization, ie the Chief of Police, must drive the change through example and mandate. We, the citizens, must be a part of the solution as well. We must ask individual officers, the organization’s leadership, and elected officials to enact and enforce an aggressive no idling policy.  Praise and appreciation goes a long way too. When you see an officer who is not idling, be sure to thank him.

Thanks for asking the questions the need to be asked!

Mandy