No, police officers don't pay for parking in Sioux Falls

A photo posted in a local Sioux Falls "Rants and Raves" Facebook page has created some buzz around the parking rules for police officers.

Photos shared Wednesday in the group show three Sioux Falls Police Department squad vehicles parked downtown in front of expired parking meters. The poster, listed as Weston Thompson, included the question: "Do you think that police officers who are drinking coffee in Josias (sic) coffee house should have to pay for parking?" 

The post generated more than 300 comments, many of them coming to the same conclusion already reached by city officials: No.

Sioux Falls police officers do not pay for parking while on duty, including during their breaks. In fact, any vehicle with a "CTY" license plate — indicating a city-owned vehicle  — is not required to pay to park in metered spaces or in city ramps.

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Most often, city vehicles are parked in ramps, and employees try to avoid disrupting regular parking downtown, said T.J. Nelson, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Paul TenHaken. 

"There'll be times when a parks and rec car is maybe watering plants downtown, and they're parked for 10 minutes in a pay spot ... but we're very cognizant of not trying to steal premium parking from others," Nelson said.

Capt. Loren McManus likened the system to a radio station. If officers paid the city for parking, he said, it would be like a radio station charging itself to run station promotions.

And even when officers are on break, they're still ready to go at any moment if duty calls. Or, they might respond to citizens in the coffee shop, restaurant or wherever cops are breaking who come up with questions.

"They are really never 'off duty' while on break," McManus said. 

Many on the Facebook post echoed that sentiment. 

"No they should not have to pay unless they are driving (their) own personal vehicles and not on the clock," Crystal Aslesen said. "Give them a break."

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