Police Funeral Escort Policy May Be Changed

Posted by Publisher on
Fairhope, Alabama

Interim Police Chief Petties says the city's policy of not allowing police officers to conduct no-cost escorts for funerals is under review and may be changed.

Petties told the Times he has assigned Sgt. Craig Sawyer to study the "pluses and minuses" of doing the escorts -- so the mayor and council can eventually decide the issue. Petties said he had recused himself from the issue personally, because his father has worked at a local funeral home for many years.

About two years ago, then Police Chief Press ended the policy of allowing officers to conduct the escorts, over safety and manpower concerns (click).

Petties said the recent addition on one officer per shift (from 4 to 5) should alleviate some of those concerns.

One new city council member (Mueller) told the Times he personally favors a return to providing the service -- as a "final salute" to citizens. County constables have been doing the escorts for the past two years -- for a fee.

Comments

Anonymous said…
The next payoff to a major campaign supporter. The idea that they are "studying" this is a joke. The Mayor (the King) has promised the return of escorts....so it will happen. All of the newly elected Council members received $ from the owners of the local funeral home. This is where the new group met before the election. Put it on the agenda and stop playing...let the escorts begin.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Anonymous said…
This is absolutely ridiculous. If the constables are doing it without a problem, and for a fee, then that's perfectly acceptable. I have no need for my police department to be providing free labor for the funeral homes.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Anonymous said…
"I have no need for my police department to be providing free labor for the funeral homes."

This would be true if the funeral homes weren't passing this cost on to their customers. So essentially, the police department is providing this free service to the family of the deceased
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Anonymous said…
It doesn't cost that much. I think its a tradition around here and should be done as a final salute. We want to keep things as they are, not make them like they do in the big city.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Anonymous said…
That is just sour grapes. The mayor won the election so he can set what ever policies he wants to. Providing escorts isn't a problem. We don't care how they do it in the big city.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Joe said…
They should have never stopped providing escorts. In the vast majority of cases that is a local taxpayer in the casket or a family member of one. In addition to making the funeral procession safer, it is a show of respect and thanks from the city.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Anonymous said…
In case you hadn't heard, the mayor was reelected by the majority vote. He gets to make the decisions now.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Anonymous said…
I think it is time for Gary W. to pay a small amount to the city for the escorts. and it is true the Nix and Kant family are back in charge of the city and believe me, will over-ride the council. wait and see. they need (the council) to keep Petties as chief and absolutely do not bring back any illegal officers who were removed from service. give Fairhope a chance to move forward and not live in the past (as Mike Ford said in a previous council meeting=he liked meeting at the Nix home to settle council meetings
Saturday, December 01, 2012
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