YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Youngstown, Ohio, Police Department garage foreman who uses a city truck to commute 100 miles round-trip to his lake cabin in Pennsylvania is within the current policy, but the policy will be discussed next year during a full review of take-home vehicles, according to the Web site www.vindy.com

Joe Mattern’s classification in the ordinance that deals with take-home city vehicles states he is permitted personal use of the vehicle during the periods he is on 24-hour call, as defined as being accessible by cell phone, radio, beeper, or other electronic device, and being within a 50-mile radius of city hall. Mattern is not paid the daily on-call rate but is still considered on-call.

The ordinance, when amended in 2002, added the 50-mile limit and accessibility devices, according to the www.vindy.com report.

Mattern’s commute to Pennsylvania came to light during a review by The Vindicator of take-home vehicle programs for select police and fire departments. The drive to Youngstown from his lake cabin takes roughly one hour and 15 minutes.