Picture taken, personal use policy questioned

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A Mobile police officer may be in hot water over a picture taken by a FOX10 News viewer. 

The picture shows what appears to be an off-duty police officer getting into a patrol car parked in front of the Circle K convenience store on Downtowner in Mobile.

According to the viewer, the officer purchased beer and had three small children inside the patrol car; one in the front passenger seat, and two in the back seat.

You can't see any beer in the photograph. The officer is wearing shorts and flip-flops which indicates he is off-duty, and there appear to be two small heads in the back seat.

The picture raises a number of questions. What is the department's policy regarding the personal use of patrol cars, and did the officer violate any police regulations?

Off-duty officers have responded to crime, and in doing so, they put their lives on the line.  That was the case back in March when an off duty police officer was shot, and seriously injured while responding to a robbery at the Winn Dixie on Government Street.

But, if there had been an emergency Saturday when the picture was taken, would the officer have been able to respond with children in the car?

FOX10 News made numerous calls to Police Headquarters Tuesday.  We're told the chief is aware of our request for information, but so far we haven't received any answers. 

As soon as that information is released, we will pass it along to you.

Earlier this year the City of Mobile cut back on the number of take home vehicles for city workers, and implemented other cuts.  However, the police department and other public safety workers have separate policies regarding take home vehicles.