Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Police present 2026 budget proposal citing staffing shortages, training and long‑term technology contracts
Summary
Police department presented its 2026 proposed budget, outlining organizational restructuring, recruitment challenges (six sworn vacancies and 10 inactive officers), technology and equipment contracts including a proposed 10‑year Axon contract, and plans for a police foundation to accept donations.
Wauwatosa Police Department leadership presented the department’s portion of the proposed 2026 budget to the Financial Affairs Committee, citing staffing shortages, rising overtime costs, and large technology contract needs.
Department leadership said an organizational structure change adopted in August will transition the department from three bureaus to two by July 2026, adding a deputy chief, two captains and additional frontline sergeants. The department described a near‑budget‑neutral reorganization intended to improve oversight and succession planning.
Presenters reported staffing challenges: as of the presentation the department had six sworn vacancies and an additional 10 sworn staff listed as inactive for reasons including work‑related…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
