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Chicopee police budget includes Axon services, cruiser and motorcycle leases; department still below full strength
Summary
The police department’s FY26 budget request includes a $696,238 Axon services package, lease plans for cruisers and motorcycles, and continued education incentives tied to contract changes; staffing remains below the full complement of 120 patrol officers.
The Chicopee Police Department told councilors June 23 its FY26 budget contains technology, vehicle and personnel line‑items that push the department’s spending above last year’s base in several accounts.
Why it matters: The largest single technology entry is the Axon services package, which the chief said is budgeted at $696,238 to cover taser services, crime‑scene software and related subscriptions; these recurring costs increase the department’s operating commitments.
The chief explained other notable changes: telephone funding rose to add lines for three new civilian positions and laptops for new cruisers and one school resource officer; repair to radio equipment increased $2,400 to support radio-over-Internet; and the department is seeking to lease two motorcycles at an estimated $13,088 per year rather than continue full purchases.
On staffing, the chief said the department currently has 112 patrol officers and is recruiting through a mix of civil-service and outside-hire options; the full complement is 120. The chief said promotions and step‑level changes can alter budgeted step‑line totals depending on who is in which pay step.
Councilors questioned increases to Westcom and to patrol‑step line items; the chief said some increases reflect the department’s changing cost share for regional dispatch and variations in how many officers occupy specific contract steps.
The council voted to tentatively approve the police department budget by roll call.
No final appropriation was made June 23; the department’s requests will be part of the final FY26 adoption process.
