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GasBuddy News Article


As Gas Prices Rise, Police Turn to Foot Patrols
Sunday, July 20, 2008
New York Times -- People around here are seeing a lot more of Officer Robert Stewart. Following strict new orders, he frequently leaves his squad car, hopping out to visit a bartender, then a barber, then a bank teller who squealed and clapped her hands, demanding to see the latest photograph of his son. As gasoline soars past the $4-a-gallon mark, police chiefs in towns and cities across the country are ordering their officers out of the car and onto their feet in a budgetary scramble.

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JT
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Message Posted: 7/20/2008 8:30:45 AM  Ignore JT Report Abuse
Sunday, July 20, 2008
New York Times -- People around here are seeing a lot more of Officer Robert Stewart. Following strict new orders, he frequently leaves his squad car, hopping out to visit a bartender, then a barber, then a bank teller who squealed and clapped her hands, demanding to see the latest photograph of his son. As gasoline soars past the $4-a-gallon mark, police chiefs in towns and cities across the country are ordering their officers out of the car and onto their feet in a budgetary scramble.

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REPLIES (newest first)
SHEP20715
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Maryland

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Message Posted: 7/24/2008 1:38:55 AM  Ignore SHEP20715 Report Abuse
personal presence to deters crime
ccf_jeff
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St. Louis

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Message Posted: 7/22/2008 6:17:50 PM  Ignore ccf_jeff Report Abuse
It might become even more effective if the criminals begin to cut back and walk/ride bicycles too.

What about horse patrols? Nah, with the price of corn going up because of the ethanol thing it might become too expensive to fill 'em up. But maybe if they could figure out a way to recycle the methane they produce ....
srs_49
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Baltimore

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Message Posted: 7/22/2008 5:35:38 PM  Ignore srs_49 Report Abuse
They're more effective on foot in many places anyway.
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 7/22/2008 1:25:25 PM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
sega
WetChicken
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New Hampshire

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Message Posted: 7/22/2008 12:37:06 AM  Ignore WetChicken Report Abuse
Not a bad idea to get some exercise. Alternatively, they can glide around on a Segway!
djgunrunner
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Salt Lake City

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 5:16:08 PM  Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse
A Police foot patrol is far more expensive than buying gas for a car. You need more officers to start with and the cost one officer far out weighs the cost of a car. Bike patrols have a real plus but in the big crime ridden cities the bikes would be stolen or stripped if the officer had to leave them.
STEVE853
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Florida

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 5:14:15 PM  Ignore STEVE853 Report Abuse
Old news.
my747
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Maryland

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 5:00:16 PM  Ignore my747 Report Abuse
CAN'T IMAGINE OUR LOCAL, OR STATE BOYS DOING THE WALKING THING. THE HARDEST THING THEY SEEM TO DO IS RIDE AROUND WITH THEIR FAMILY IN THE CARS, DO THEIR PERSONAL BUSINESS, LIKE SHOPPINGS & SUCH(& WHO PAYS FOR THE GAS) WHEN THEY ARE ON DUTY IT IS SITTING WITH THE A/C RUNNING IN THE SHADED AREAS DOING NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING...THEM DO THE WALK, DON'T THINK SO. THERE WAS AN OFF DUTY STATE POLICE (F-53) @ WAL-MART WITH HIS LADY FRIEND TODAY DOING HIS PERSONAL BUSINESS. HE IS NOT THE ONLY 1, THEY ARE HERE & @ OTHER STORES BOTH OFF DUTY, & ON DUTY DOING THEIR PERSONAL STUFF, IN THE POLICE CARS, & WHO PAYS FOR THE GAS????

[Edited by: my747 at 7/21/2008 5:00:56 PM EST]
HawaiianGuy
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Idaho

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 2:37:21 PM  Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse
I guess motorcycles are a good thing, until of course, the snow starts to fly.
CrazyQ
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Washington

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 2:34:31 PM  Ignore CrazyQ Report Abuse
I can see it now, cops on foot monitoring I-80 across Nebraska, Wyoming; I-35 & I 10 in Texas, etc.! Ha ha. What a laugh!
Stratotanker
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Dallas

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 11:29:29 AM  Ignore Stratotanker Report Abuse
Most of them can use the exercise. .

However, our present infrastructure is not really suited to this kind of policing. Stop and think of how long it takes to get a 911 response as it is. The cops today simply have to cover a much larger area, and that doesn't work well on foot.
CruisinLinda
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Tallahassee

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 11:20:28 AM  Ignore CruisinLinda Report Abuse
What's so bad about that? A consolation for high gas prices to the communities. A health benefit for the officers. Bad for criminals.
boozerbob
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Twin Cities

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 11:10:55 AM  Ignore boozerbob Report Abuse
Some don't know in the twin cites [Mpls. & St. Paul] for years we ride bikes horses, walk the beat & motorcycles. FOR SOME OF YOU NEXT TIME YOU NEED HELP CALL A CRACK HEAD....
Grismer
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Ontario

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 11:06:40 AM  Ignore Grismer Report Abuse
This will probably be a great help to local neighborhoods.
tomok
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Portland

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 11:06:13 AM  Ignore tomok Report Abuse
YES! overweight police on foot or bicycles.
Get 'em out of the patrol car and the radar traps.

HA! skaters and skate boarder police.......
krucker
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Austin

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 11:05:17 AM  Ignore krucker Report Abuse
Bicycles and Horses sound like good alternatives. COPS ON SKATES? Lets get out of the 70s......ROLLERBLADES!!!!
Gerund1
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Toronto

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:59:40 AM  Ignore Gerund1 Report Abuse
There is nothing better than personal presence to deter crime.
Hawkeyejd
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Ontario

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:59:09 AM  Ignore Hawkeyejd Report Abuse
OK
china211
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Long Island

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:58:45 AM  Ignore china211 Report Abuse
I have started car pooling to work.
kidmikey37
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Texas

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:58:37 AM  Ignore kidmikey37 Report Abuse
cops on skates? that would be funny
kwazarx
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:57:39 AM  Ignore kwazarx Report Abuse
I expect to see more bike patrols, maybe skaters.
hangupanddrive
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Michigan

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:53:03 AM  Ignore hangupanddrive Report Abuse
Talk about a wellness program! Less doughnuts, more exercise!! Ha.
chillerman
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Albuquerque

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:51:46 AM  Ignore chillerman Report Abuse
Oh no!!!! Got a bike????
AlaRedNeck
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Kansas

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:48:02 AM  Ignore AlaRedNeck Report Abuse
Gonna be hard for the cops to catch gas drive-off's on foot.
roadkillGA
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Georgia

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:46:29 AM  Ignore roadkillGA Report Abuse
Budgets
1998jimmy
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West Virginia

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:44:14 AM  Ignore 1998jimmy Report Abuse
BACK TO THE OLD TIMES
nightriderKY
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Lexington

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:43:19 AM  Ignore nightriderKY Report Abuse
yep good for them
flatcoatfun
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Orlando

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:42:25 AM  Ignore flatcoatfun Report Abuse
good for them!! And they get exercise too - probibly lower their health care costs!!
acknot
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Seattle

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:42:23 AM  Ignore acknot Report Abuse
Yes, most cops could use the exercise.
Gassie1
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Akron

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:41:43 AM  Ignore Gassie1 Report Abuse
I agree
nd73
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Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:41:04 AM  Ignore nd73 Report Abuse
Most of the cops I see could stand a little exercise!!
RC_RACER
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Tacoma

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:36:51 AM  Ignore RC_RACER Report Abuse
yesterdays news, same response.
Schwartzmdja
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Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:36:27 AM  Ignore Schwartzmdja Report Abuse
read this yesterday
CTgasman01
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Connecticut

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:32:34 AM  Ignore CTgasman01 Report Abuse
Well, this is tax payers money as well.
throttle
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Maryland

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:30:12 AM  Ignore throttle Report Abuse
Good.
canescommuter
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Greensboro

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:29:31 AM  Ignore canescommuter Report Abuse
They never should have gotten away from foot patrols. How much gas is wasted idling behind every corner trying to trap someone driving 10 miles over the "limit"?
RochBear
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Minnesota

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:28:00 AM  Ignore RochBear Report Abuse
They should first of all get rid of their SUVs too. When are the cops going to be "pulling a boat" or "NEED the extra room". I don't see them arresting 6 people and need the 7 passenger room.
myromeo
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Missouri

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:27:38 AM  Ignore myromeo Report Abuse
good get to know the people they are there to serve and protect. it can also be a good way to get leads on crimes if the people know them then they are more apt to talk to them
dyeh
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Illinois

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:27:38 AM  Ignore dyeh Report Abuse
This is the third article I've read that's a duplicate of one posted late last week.

The good news is even the police is trying to save gas.

Every day I get passed on the freeway by speeding SUV's with single drivers. We have a long way to go to decrease significant demand. 1% decrease is piddly.
Chris46
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Dayton

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:26:43 AM  Ignore Chris46 Report Abuse
Yep
my3sons
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New York

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:23:22 AM  Ignore my3sons Report Abuse
they will be more connected to the communities too
WillyG
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Cincinnati

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:22:17 AM  Ignore WillyG Report Abuse
England has been doing it for decades. Why can't we ? And why do patrol cars have to be big V8 gas guzzlers ? In a lot of countries police drive small very efficient patrol cars. How about motorcycles ?
dmmd3
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Rochester

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:20:02 AM  Ignore dmmd3 Report Abuse
Bike patrols when possible, and officers not idling the cars for hours like i have seen may help. Also if they stopped speeding everywhere that may help too.lol
yelobus
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Houston

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:16:55 AM  Ignore yelobus Report Abuse
A few couldn't walk a block if they had to.
rbdesigns
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Modesto

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:16:10 AM  Ignore rbdesigns Report Abuse
I wonder if they are going to bring back horses?
Japsmith
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Tacoma

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:13:57 AM  Ignore Japsmith Report Abuse
Its even getting too expensive for robbers, since they have recently changed their trends to robbing gasoline along with their already long lists of goods and cash.
z1000
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Indianapolis

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:12:59 AM  Ignore z1000 Report Abuse
Thats OK because criminals don't drive cars...
krell58
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Missouri

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:12:46 AM  Ignore krell58 Report Abuse
Watch the Energy Non-Crisis.
http://tinyurl.com/33l95c
cameronboi
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Austin

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:12:39 AM  Ignore cameronboi Report Abuse
there are also horse-back patrols as well! poor horses in the Texas heat...
amacquarrie
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Nevada

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Message Posted: 7/21/2008 10:10:24 AM  Ignore amacquarrie Report Abuse
I have been seeing a lot of cops on bikes lately.
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