I disagree.
Whereas I was an Agency Head in SW Florida having retired after 32 years, I would like to say, I agree with the shared radio concept. It is a hard core sell even at todays GSA pricing schedules for any budget justification in these times when we cannot even provide a COLA increase to employees, nevermind a pay or parity adjustment.
However in the vehicle area, I disagree. I worked in both areas of admins where both plans were utilized. One was shared vehicles, that ran 24/7. They never stopped. These vehicles wore out in less that a year, had no resale value, and maintenance was higher. Say what you will but officers do not take care of a non issued vehicle. I know I know, inspections, sign outs, yada yada yada. It doesnt work. On the other hand when the vehicles were issued, they were well kept, clean, and lasted at least Five years. The problems I do see with such a program is that the line drawn as to WHOM gets a take home vehicle was ill administered. I do not think administrators should be issued a vehicle UNLESS they respond to emergencies and callouts which some do and are bound by responsibilities to do. Civilian personnel do not need assigned vehicles, unless the criteria above applies.
I did not have an assigned vehicle. I was compensated for fuel and maintenance under a statute in Florida which allows agency heads to do. Desk jobs, 8 to 5vers etc do not need a vehicle. I kept two or three "admin pool" cars for when there was a need temporarily. But there were several times we had incidents (wildfires, hostage, large groups, warrant service) where we had to call out a lot of off duty officers. Had they needed to go get a vehicle, etc we would have been in big problems. And no they cannot just do like TV and throw a blue light on top of their POV's and haul.
So anyway I agree with the radio concept. Also a sidenote to a few whom said issue portables only no mobiles, we could not get away with that where I was nor I know a few more counties who could not either as our infrastructure did not have enough sites for portable to portable coverage. The County did not want to pay for the 16 sites Simulcast or Multicast that the vendors originally proposed. SO we needed a mobile to guarantee some sort of communications.
Another thing that irks me is the "KINGS CASTLE" ideaology. There is no problem with shared systems and each agency does not need to have their own infrastructure or system just to say they run it or own it. With todays technology and ability to segregate them, it is a non argument.
thumbs up to Naples Fl for trying to save the taxpayers some money. I think sharing radios is a great idea,it provides the needed communication to on duty officers without the radio just sitting on the charger at the officers house collecting dust when that officer isnt working. i think also if certain officers are hell bent on having their own radio their department should say ok but if you want your own radio the cost of that radio is coming out of your paycheck. that way the officers who want to have their own radio and think its worth spending $3000 to $5000 can and the ones who dont mind sharing radios can save themselves a few thousand dollars . i also think it would be a great idea for more departments here in fl to put an end to take home squad cars and share those as well. take home cars are a total waste of tax dollars and have no benefits that i can see. i live in sarasota and almost any neighborhood or apartment complex you drive through you see Sheriff or city police cars just parked in a driveways not being used ,what a waste of my tax dollars.i think sharing of radios and squad cars is a great idea and makes alot of sense in this economic climate.