Chief of Police Joe Zakowski told councilmembers Monday that one of the department’s nearly-new patrol cars — about 10,000 miles — was damaged in an accident and requires roughly $11,000 in repairs, including about $2,000 in parts that the department mechanic can install and additional body work to be contracted out.

"There's very you know, that line is just about out, but putting this money in the vehicle repair line will leave me $5,000 for the rest of the year," Zakowski said, describing the request to adjust the 2025 budget to cover repairs.

Nut graf: Zakowski said the department is self-insured and does not expect an insurance recovery for the repair costs. He added that his mechanic saves the city tens of thousands of dollars annually but that some specialized work must be outsourced.

Councilmembers asked about an internal-affairs review of the collision and about whether the vehicle-repair needs could be covered by other BPD line items instead of the general fund; Zakowski said he and finance staff reviewed budget lines but concluded a supplemental adjustment was needed.

Zakowski also noted current staffing vacancies — he estimated about 10 openings in the department — and said some vacancies are unlikely to be filled this year; he and councilmembers discussed training initiatives to reduce collision-related costs and fleet maintenance expectations.

Ending: Councilmembers requested follow-up with the comptroller’s office on budget alternatives and said they were open to receiving more detail from finance staff before a formal vote on the budget adjustment.