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Council debate over police hires centers on public-safety requests and budget trade-offs
Summary
A councilmember urged adding five full-time police officers — a proposal that would cost about $1.07 million — while other members and staff urged caution and proposed smaller additions or deferral to midyear. Police chief warned of vehicle-outfitting delays and additional non-salary costs.
A Colton councilmember recommended adding five full-time police officers to the proposed fiscal-year budget to address traffic enforcement, retail theft, and quality-of-life complaints. "I'd like to recommend five police officers to the plan," the councilmember said during the budget workshop, citing panhandling, speeding, shoplifting and other public-safety concerns in several neighborhoods.
The councilmember gave a staff estimate that five officers — including salaries, benefits and vehicles — would cost about $1,065,000 for the year. Another councilmember proposed a smaller, three-officer option with an estimated first-year cost of $639,000.
Police Chief Vega said the department is actively recruiting and has reduced vacancies, but warned that adding sworn positions carries additional non-salary costs and lead times. "If you were to approve funding for a vehicle, we would not get a vehicle into the fleet in over a year right now," Vega said, describing a backlog that includes outfitting time of four to six months from purchase order to on-street readiness. The chief also noted that some staffing requests could be met in part by promotions and by filling current vacancies; staff reported three officers currently in the academy and several in field training.
Council discussion focused on how to pay for new officers. Staff had outlined five general funding options: maintain the proposed budget and revisit at midyear; reallocate existing services; increase the general fund transfer; reduce reserves; or use pension/OPEB reserves. Finance Director Stacy Dabbs reiterated that each option has trade-offs and that introducing ongoing personnel costs would pressure reserves and future budgets.
No formal vote on adding sworn officers occurred at the workshop. Several councilmembers signaled support for a status-quo budget pending midyear review; others asked staff to return cost options and funding scenarios. Chief Vega and staff said they would provide further details on vehicle needs, equipment and timelines if council requested additional positions.
