Council approves emergency repairs for Pecos Police Department; chief details cameras, body‑cams and technology grant
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Summary
Council approved up to $76,619.10 to expedite safety, access and repairs at the Pecos Police Department and heard that the department has secured roughly $439,000 in grant funding for vehicle and camera technology, including body and car cameras.
Pecos City Council on Thursday approved a resolution to amend a professional‑services agreement and authorize emergency repairs and safety work at the Pecos Police Department, not to exceed $76,619.10, while Chief Lisa Parango outlined recent technology upgrades funded in part by a federal grant.
Holly Jeracke, community services director, presented Resolution 25‑09‑05R, which amends the city’s agreement with VAERS for emergency enclosure, access and repair work at the police facility. Jeracke described interior and exterior damage around the foyer and door systems and said the work includes repairs stemming from prior demolition and flood/settling damage. "The front doors, we pulled all of the foyer out completely… the settling with all of the water damage that came in over the years" she said, explaining why the enclosure and retrofit work are necessary.
The council approved the amendment by motion; the resolution allows the city manager to proceed with the VAERS scope up to the stated amount.
During the meeting, Chief Lisa Parango gave the council an update on public safety operations tied to Goal 2 of the 2030 plan. She reported the department had added four patrol units since her prior presentation, bringing the fleet to 12, and said body and car camera implementation is operational following a recent rollout. Parango told the council the department successfully secured a technology grant of approximately $439,000 that will cover in‑car computers, additional cameras (tilt/pan/zoom) and other patrol technologies. "We're gonna get a half a million dollars worth of technology, and most of it's gonna be covered by this grant," Parango said.
Parango also described plans for license‑plate readers and trailer‑mounted pan/tilt/zoom cameras on a lease that will initially place 12 cameras and six license‑plate readers on major thoroughfares and problem areas. She said the LPRs and PTZ cameras will be integrated with the Flock public‑safety platform and that the technology grant can be reapplied for annually to continue leases and expand coverage.
The chief said the department has implemented new dispatch radio consoles, trained and licensed dispatchers, negotiated a higher Marshall contract rate for the county jail program and is recruiting to fill several positions. She also reported animal control outcomes—Christy Wright, animal control supervisor, was credited for a shelter live‑release rate above 90% and recognition from the Best Friends Animal Society.
Why it matters: The emergency repairs aim to secure the police facility for staff and the public while the technology upgrades reflect a major shift toward camera‑based monitoring and mobile computing in patrol vehicles. The grant reduces the immediate capital burden for the city but commits the department to leased hardware and ongoing grant applications to sustain the program.
Council approved the VAERS amendment and the staff presentations indicated the city will continue planning for a new police facility in the longer term while pursuing temporary accommodations and portable facilities if needed.
