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Falls Church police outline FY26 budget priorities: accreditation, staffing study and end to two red‑light camera sites
Summary
Police Chief Sharam Ford presented a roughly $13.5 million public safety budget proposal for FY26 that funds accreditation work, new professional‑standards staffing, equipment upgrades, and recommends ending the city’s two photo red‑light enforcement sites while continuing speed‑camera and school‑bus stop‑arm programs.
Chief of Police Sharam Ford told the City Council the Falls Church public safety FY26 budget proposal would be roughly $13.5 million and would prioritize accreditation work, updated technology and patrol staffing adjustments.
Ford said the FY26 public safety budget is approximately $13,500,000, a 9.66 percent increase over FY25, and the police department’s share of that total is about $11,800,000 (a 9.24 percent increase). The increases reflect planned investments in personnel, technology and interjurisdictional contracts, Ford said.
On accountability and accreditation, Ford said the department will permanently fund a professional‑standards manager position and continue the three‑year Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) process. “This is an integral to our national accreditation efforts…a key priority for the council, the community and as well for our department,” Ford said. He said the accreditation review will be an open,…
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