By Lucas Sullivan
The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus will not use GPS devices to monitor city vehicles driven by police chiefs and commanders, citing safety concerns for those officers, but it will track cars issued to high-ranking firefighters.
The installation of the devices in city vehicles has begun, and the Division of Fire already is investigating “seven firefighters for speed violations,” Battalion Chief Patrick Ferguson said yesterday. In at least half of those instances, battalion chiefs were traveling about 100 mph or faster.
Mayor Michael B. Coleman pushed for the devices, saying they will lead to lower fuel costs and less pollution and because he has grown tired of news reports about city employees’ misuse of vehicles. The GPS units track speed, mileage, location and the vehicle’s path. They also will alert managers if a vehicle is left idling or has mechanical problems. About 2,000 vehicles marked with city decals are to be equipped this year with GPS devices. The city has agreed to pay $1.5 million plus annual monitoring costs to AssetWorks Inc.
Full story: Top cops escape Columbus’ new GPS policy