BROWNSBURG, Ind. — The Brownsburg Police Department reported several near-term equipment needs at the Oct. 14 Police Commission meeting, including K-9 replacements funded by grants, a state-mandated radio upgrade and a planned shift in fleet vehicles to support pursuit-mitigation systems.

K-9 funding and grants: Chief Joseph Grimes said the department received a Henderson County Health Partnership grant for $14,500 to purchase a replacement K-9. He said one prior K-9 had been donated and the current purchase will be covered through grant money rather than general-tax funding; additional canine-related purchases (the dog, handler equipment and canine housing) will also be required. The commission also acknowledged a Hendricks Power Cooperative grant awarded to the canine group (amount not specified in the meeting).

Radio upgrade: Grimes told the commission the state is requiring a transition to TDMA (time-division multiple access) radio systems. The department is upgrading radio firmware where possible but expects to replace radios that cannot be flashed, pushing planned replacement schedules and causing the need for a bulk purchase. Grimes said the state has delayed the mandate date multiple times but the department must be prepared for a final cutoff.

Fleet changes: Grimes discussed a planned transition to larger vehicles such as Ford Expeditions for some assignments, including the K-9 unit, to accommodate technology such as grappler or StarChase systems that require larger platforms. He said the Expeditions use an EcoBoost six-cylinder turbo engine and are intended to provide better fuel economy than some older pursuit platforms. Major Watts and town fleet superintendent Chris Kears were cited as having worked on fleet discussions.

Budget status: Grimes said the town council held a public hearing and approved the police department budget on second reading; final adoption is scheduled for the council’s next meeting (third reading). Grimes said he did not anticipate material changes to the department’s submission.

Why it matters: The radio mandate and fleet changes carry budgetary and operational implications; grant awards limit taxpayer impact for the K-9 replacement but additional canine costs remain.

Decisions and direction: No ordinance or appropriation vote was recorded at the commission meeting for bulk radio or vehicle purchases. Grimes said he would assess remaining line-item balances and present funding steps as needed.

Ending: The commission heard the updates and moved on to other business; further budget or purchase requests would return to the commission or town council as required.