NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A discussion about the car take-home policy of Metro police generated a testy confrontation between a councilman and the chief of police.

In the past three years, Metro police have trimmed the number of take-home cars by 35 percent.

But Councilman Michael Craddock questioned why seven administrative staff members within the department have take-home cars.

"Explain to me, why Ms. Ragan, just for instance, has a take-home car?" Craddock asked Metro Police Chief Ronal Serpas on Tuesday night.

Christine Ragan is the police department's financial officer.

"I believe it's in the best interest of the police department," said Serpas.

Council members have to explain this year why they are not getting raises. Longevity and increment pay increases have been cut out of the budget, city-wide.

"We're not asking for something for nothing. We have provided to the citizens of this community an excellent product, excellent service. We're simply now asking for council to meet the obligation to us," said Robert Weaver of the Fraternal Order of Police.

"It's tough for me to sit here and vote on a budget of yours when these guys out here that are fighting in the trenches every day to watch after all of us don't get raises. They don't get longevity, and yet the taxpayers of this city are putting gas in Ms. Ragan's car, and other people's cars, and letting them take them home just for the sake of a take-home car," said Craddock.

"I made a judgment call that those seven people are mission-critical to the police department and the services we provide. I still feel that way. I still think that those seven people provide a service that is critical to the operation of the department," said Serpas.

This year, the Metro Police Department has been asked to cut $700,000 from its fleet budget.