SUMMERDALE, Ala. - The Summerdale Town Council discussed allowing town police officers to have take-home vehicles once the new police chief assumes his position as head of the department.

The decision to stop allowing officers to take cars home was made by the council in October 2010, but the council backed off and continued to allow officers to take home vehicles earlier this year.

Mayor David Wilson authorized a 90-day policy at the March 14 council meeting allowing police officers living more than 10 miles outside the town limits to take home their vehicles when off duty. This specification was made, Wilson said, because two newly-hired officers lived more than 10 miles outside town limits. The general rule is any officer living more than 10 miles outside the town limits cannot take home their vehicle.

The topic was brought up at Tuesday's work session because the 90-day period is close to finishing.

The decision to allow or not allow officers to take home vehicles is up to the mayor. Because of "discussions we had with the police chief that we want to hire and because the officers have stepped up the way they have" the decision was made to continue allowing all officers to take home vehicles, Wilson said.

The council will vote Monday whether to appoint Eddie Ingram, called Frankie E. Ingram on his application, as the town's new police chief.

"We've already discussed that with him in the interview. He agreed to let them take (the vehicles) home," Wilson said.

Wilson will continue to allow officers to take the vehicles home as long as the officers "are doing their job," he said.