City Police: Calling Some Cars

Richmond officials have done the wise and correct thing by circumscribing the personal use of squad cars by city police officers. Prior to the change, cops could drive the cars home, even if home lay far afield of the city limits. For the most part they now will be able to do so only within the jurisdictional boundaries.

Parking a Richmond police car in a Richmond residential neighborhood can have a healthy deterrent effect. Parking one on the street in New Kent or Powhatan probably achieves little but the raising of curious eyebrows.

Richmond has a bad record regarding the personal use of city vehicles. Although the Police Department's policy was not unethical, it was imprudent. We're glad to see the new one.