Columbus city vehicles getting GPS systems

Columbus City Council last night approved spending 1-point-9 million dollars to install GPS tracking and monitoring systems in police cruisers and other city-owned vehicles in hopes of saving fuel and boosting employee efficiency. The systems would show supervisors when employees speed or visit unauthorized sites, help recover stolen vehicles and illustrate which equipment is underused. Columbus finance director Paul Rakosky says officials anticipate the benefit in fuel savings and efficiency would be larger than the costs. He says it will take months to get the tracking systems ready. The head of the Columbus Fraternal Order of Police says the program raises concerns because it would involve discipline, which must be negotiated with the union.