Why do cops like to leave their patrol cars idling?

Question

I often see police leave their cruisers idling while they run into the store for donuts or whatever. Is there a valid reason for leaving their cars on, or is it just a blatant disregard of taxpayer money as well as the economic and environmental impacts of wasting fossil fuels?

Answer 1

The radio and not the AM/FM radio either, the police radio.   Their portable radio relays through the car radio.  The radio will run off of the car battery for about an hour, after that.....dead battery and no radio.

Answer 2

the department i work for is small and the public complains about everything we do.  we are no longer allowed to leave our vehicles running if we are just sitting somewhere.  we have to write all our reports in the field so now we dont even get to sit in the ac when it is 112 out.  hope the people that complained to cause this dont ever need us there in a hurry.

Answer 3

no reason at all it only takes a second to turn the ignition

Answer 4

The car's MDT, radio, tracking device, ect sucks alot of power.  If you turn the car off, you risk your battery running down.  

Sometimes when you turn the car off everything shuts down and you have to restart it, a real pain.

In addition to fuel costs, officers also risk having their cars stolen.  A teenage girl stole one in my area a while back.  Officers handcuffed her and put her in the back seat of the car.  They turned their back, and she managed to slip the cuffs in front of her, crawl through the partiton (the officer didn't slide it shut), and take off.

It's why I sugust the policy of handcuffing to a belt loop, and shutting the partion...

Answer 5

So they can leave in a hurry & not have to worry about the car not starting..

Answer 6

i guess it has to do with their training, at the acadamy they are taught to always be prepared. they never know when they might see a krispy kreme truck...