Middleburg — The Town Council approved a six-month pilot program allowing sworn police officers to take town vehicles home within a 40-mile air-radius, part of a package of measures staff said are intended to aid recruitment and reduce wear on officers’ personal vehicles.

Chief (unidentified) presented options including a full take-home program, a modified program with mileage caps, and alternatives such as stipends or mileage reimbursement. He told council the department can implement GPS tracking via a device beneath the dashboard and that insurers raised no objection to off-site parking of police vehicles.

Councilmember John Kevin Daley moved the resolution to authorize a 40-mile pilot and required that the chief of police and town manager report to council in April 2025 with six months of operating data. “I move that the town council authorize the town manager to implement a 40 mile limit full vehicle take home program for sworn law enforcement officers,” Daley said when making the motion.

Council debated mileage and pilot length at length. Some members argued many neighboring jurisdictions use a 30-mile cap while others noted recruiting pressures and pointed to agencies offering 40–50 miles. After discussion, council adopted a pilot limited to a 40-mile air-mile radius and affirmed it would review program costs and mileage impacts as part of the FY26 budget process.

A friendly amendment clarifies eligibility: officers must complete the department’s field-training component before participating. The motion as adopted directs staff to incorporate the program into the town’s employee handbook and to return with a formal report in April 2025.

The council approved the motion by voice vote; there were multiple recorded “ayes” and no objections noted during the meeting.

Next steps: staff will implement the pilot, install tracking equipment as needed, collect mileage and cost data over the next six months and present findings to council in April 2025 for consideration as part of the FY26 budget process.