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Council reviews police, dispatch and victim-advocate budgets; staff asks to restore frozen positions
Summary
Police Chief Mike Ward and staff presented staffing and budget changes: restoration of three frozen sworn positions in the police budget, an expanded canine program (new second dog), continued reliance on VOCA/VAWA grants for victim advocates, and staffing gaps in 911 dispatch and animal-control operations.
Police Chief Mike Ward told the Rawlins City Council that the police department's preliminary FY2026 budget includes restoring three previously frozen sworn positions and reflects recent pay changes.
“The reason that it's so high is not just salary increases. It is the addition of those three frozen positions,” Chief Mike Ward explained, describing an 18.57% increase in line-item salaries and wages compared with the prior budget year due to restored positions and recent council-approved pay adjustments.
Staffing, training and recruits
Chief Ward said the department currently lists 19 sworn officers plus one administrative secretary (20 total positions), but recent turnover and active recruitment mean staffing is in transition; he reported ongoing recruiting and a recent lateral candidate offered a position. He thanked council for increasing the starting salary and lifting the 86-hour rule, and said recruitment results take time because of application, hiring and training processes.
Canine program and victim services
Ward said the department is reestablishing a two-dog narcotics K-9 program; the first dog is in training and the budget includes acquiring a second canine and associated training costs. He also described the victim-services program: staff proposed reorganizing the program into a separate department with 2.5 positions, funded primarily by federal VOCA and VAWA grant streams and state victim-service funds.
911 dispatch and animal control
The 911 center was budgeted for seven positions; Ward reported two open slots and two staff currently in training. Staff described technology and software costs in the dispatch budget (mapping, Smart911, text-to-911 services) and noted that dispatchers attend post-certification and required training. The animal-control program operates with two officers and modest revenue from licenses and adoptions; staff told council licensing levels are well below actual pet numbers and suggested stepped-up outreach to increase compliance and revenue.
Next steps
Staff did not ask for immediate formal action on these personnel items and will return with final budget documents; recruitment and training timelines will be part of follow-up reporting to council.
