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In Connecticut, the association that represents Connecticut State Troopers is challenging a new directive designed to reduce the department’s gasoline consumption by prohibiting troopers from using state gas pumps on their days off. A recent memo from the state indicated that troopers will only be allowed to fill up their cruisers at state pumps and only while they’re on duty.
In the past, Conn. troopers have been allowed to use their cruisers for personal trips and could fill up on state gas for free, even on their days off. The catch was that they had to always be on call.
The new policy was implemented after Gov. M. Jodi Rell ordered state agencies to reduce gasoline consumption by about ten percent prior to last month. The governor says she wants a 25 percent reduction in the use of gas by state employees in the next fiscal year, which began July 1.
The state Department of Public Safety has indicated that it uses about 2.7 million gallons of gas each year.
A lot of that goes into the tanks of vehicles used by Connecticut’s more than 1,200 troopers.
Steven Rief, president of the Connecticut State Police Union, said that state troopers have no problem conserving gasoline and cutting costs. They understand that’s a responsibility they all share.
But he said that the union had no choice but to file a grievance over the policy because it violates the labor contract.
“All we’re trying to say is, we wanted the opportunity to sit down with the department so we could mutually come to an agreement . . . to comply with the governor’s directive,” Rief told the AP.
Besides forbidding fill-ups on days off, the directive ends out-of-state travel in cruisers unless it has already been approved or is considered “necessary for our mission,” State Police Col. Thomas Davoren wrote in a memo to troopers. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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