Finance committee approves $250,000 transfer to HPD overtime lines

The Holyoke Finance Committee on Sept. 8 approved transferring $250,000 into the police department’s overtime account and forwarded the measure to the full City Council.

Chief Brian Keenan told the committee the transfer moves funds from several personnel lines — dispatch, sergeants, patrolmen and captains — into the HPD overtime line. Keenan said the department anticipated the transfer will carry operations through the winter and noted the department’s overtime spending was $49,000 lower than at the same point last year despite recent high‑cost events, including an officer‑involved shooting that added roughly $12,000 in overtime costs.

Keenan said scheduling improvements and careful oversight by supervisors helped reduce overtime. He told the committee the department maintains itemized codes for overtime and can report where funds are spent.

Councilors voted to approve the transfer and send it to the full City Council for vote.