Albany leaders weigh police hiring against investments in drones and camera technology

City of Albany officials and police leaders on June 3 outlined persistent staffing challenges and technological investments the department says will help patrols respond faster, even as at least one resident urged the commission to prioritize hiring more sworn officers.

Chief Johnson (Albany Police Department) told the commission the department’s clearance rates have been strong and that monthly crime reports ranged from 561 in February to 665 in April. He said homicide investigations from January to May included multiple active cases and some arrests, and he described declines in gunshot-detection activations since January.

The chief and Major Victor Camp described a range of technology the department is expanding. That list included Raven gunshot detection, Flock license-plate readers, a camera integration program, an “evidence vault” for video storage and a proposal to phase in a drone program for first-responder situational awareness. The department said 24 new license-plate readers are planned for deployment based on 2022 JAG grant funding once the city approves required budget items.

In public comment, a resident identified in the record as Goodperson told commissioners he has lived in Albany nearly three years and said property taxes and utility bills have risen while street-level police coverage has not met his expectations. He asked why starting pay for new officers, which he characterized as about $50,000 a year, had not been increased enough to recruit and retain officers.

Chief Johnson responded that recruitment and retention are national and generational issues. He said the department recently hired 12 people who will begin the police academy in July, that several recruits passed recent tests and that the department has hired hundreds of officers during the past decade. He also said the department is expanding non‑sworn positions — civilian community safety officers and civilian investigators — so trained civilians can operate some technology and free sworn officers for street duties.

City staff noted the budget proposed at the work session includes a $200,000 increase identified specifically for the police drone initiative. Chief Johnson said the drone program is “on hold pending FY approval” and needs a phased implementation approach, including launch sites and trained operators who would not necessarily be sworn officers. The chief characterized technology as a “force multiplier,” not a replacement for officers.

Commissioners and the chief discussed other technology and staffing items the department says need future funding, including additional LPR cameras, camera trailers for events, body camera upgrades and a real-time information center that could be civilian‑run. Commissioners expressed support for hiring more officers while acknowledging limits on recruiting and retention.

No formal vote to adopt new police pay scales or to finalize drone procurement occurred at the work session. The commission’s finance director provided revised budget figures and noted the drone line was part of the proposed budget adjustments; the drone purchase remains contingent on future budget approval.