Plan to track Westmoreland County-owned vehicles with GPS on hold because of sheriff's lawsuit

Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office vehicles won’t be tracked by GPS until a lawsuit challenging a policy requiring the devises on county vehicles is resolved, a judge ruled.

The policy, enacted this summer by the commissioners but not yet put into practice, requires around-the-clock tracking of all county owned and leased vehicles.

Sheriff James Albert in August filed the lawsuit, which claims the policy endangers deputies. The two-term sheriff asked a judge to intervene to invalidate the portion of the fleet policy that requires the GPS tracking.

The sheriff’s department provides courtroom security, transportation of inmates and serves warrants.

Common Pleas Court Judge Harry Smail Jr. issued an order this week that said the GPS units cannot be installed in sheriff department vehicles until the lawsuit is resolved.

Attorneys for the sheriff’s department and the county consented to hiatus of the program.

The county commissioners said the policy would improve efficiency and safety. The county operates a fleet of about 180 vehicles, including about 30 cars and SUVs that are assigned to the sheriff’s office.

The policy requires all county employees, including elected officials, to log in to a GPS device, which provides real-time tracking of where, when and how employees drive.

Albert has contended the policy violates his authority as an independently elected official. He also claims the tracking data collected by the county could be improperly used to monitor deputies who assist state police with drug investigations and serve protection from abuse orders.

The commissioners rejected a request from Albert seeking a waiver in which the sheriff’s office would be excluded from the tracking provisions in the new fleet policy.

The Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association in a brief filed with the court backing Albert’s lawsuit, argued the county’s policy posses a substantial risk to deputies.

“The commissioners of Westmoreland County lacked the authority to impose the new fleet policy on the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff is an independent constitutional officer who has the authority to manage and supervise his office,” according to the agency’s argument. “Further, the implementation of a policy … could subject the sheriff, and sheriff’s deputies to additional danger in the performance of their duties.”

The county has yet to decide on a similar request sought this summer by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, which has sought to be excluded from the fleet policy based on the same concerns raised by Albert.