Police Seek Carport to Protect Cars, Equipment

Monroe's police cars are exposed to the elements year-round without the cover of a garage or even a carport. In the wintertime, Lt. Brian McCauley says officers spend a lot of time clearing off their cars and moving them around the parking lot for plows when it snows.

Officer Tim Larkin said he has to move his car around the parking lot three times some winters days, then after coming back from patrol and working on a case in the building, he sometimes has to clear his car off again to go out on a call.

Snow isn't the only condition police have to contend with, according to McCauley. He said temperature fluctuations between hot and cold can affect sensitive equipment.

Equipment in the cars affected by temperature changes are fire extinguishers, AEDs (automatic emergency defibrillators), oxygen tanks, radios, lights, computers and chemical ice packs.

AEDs, which are used to shock the heart into beating again on medical calls, are checked before each shift and McCauley said an AED cannot be used at times because it's too hot or cold.

"The most crucial thing is the computers," McCauley said, "because an officer communicates with headquarters on it and they write reports, so they can stay out on patrol."

The equipment inside police cars can also print out tickets for infractions.

The police department hopes to use available funds in the building project to install a carport in the parking lot. A proposal was approved by the Historic District Commission and recommended by the Architectural Review Board.

Now it's before the Planning & Zoning Commission.

No officials have spoken against the need for a carport, but there has been debate over its appearance.