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Police report cites prolonged cruiser upfitter delays, radar-sign data and complaint-tracking improvements
Summary
Chief Howard told Sunbury City Council that upfitter delays have kept patrol cruisers out of service for extended periods, the department is changing vendors to shorten turnaround, and radar-sign data shows a small share of vehicles exceeding posted limits at monitored locations.
Sunbury Police Chief Howard updated City Council on cruiser upfitter delays, patrol statistics and data from radar speed signs at the May 7 meeting.
Chief Howard said one new cruiser, placed in service in mid‑April, was returned to the upfitter two days later and has been out of service since; he said the first vehicle has been in the upfitter’s shop for 83 days as of the car’s May 9 arrival, and another vehicle had been in the process for 48 days. “We're at day 83 if it comes in on May 9,” he said. Howard and staff said they plan to move the remaining three vehicles to Park Public Safety, a vendor that they expect will return completed vehicles in 4–6 weeks and provide a replacement car every 10–14 days, at a higher per‑vehicle cost (estimated $3,000–$3,500 extra per car).
On enforcement data, Howard presented patrol statistics and the results from radar‑speed signs deployed at several locations. Current radar-sign placements include Clover Street, South Columbus at BWI, North Miller and Meyer, and Prairie Run near 104. Planned moves include High Street, North Columbus, Granville, Sunbury Meadows and Walnut Street when it reopens.
Using the Clover Street example, Howard said about 2,000 vehicles passed the site during the monitoring period and 53 vehicles — approximately 2.2% — exceeded 30 mph; the speed-sign data and complaint forms are maintained so staff can report back to complainants. Howard said complaint forms record who checked a location, how long patrol staff watched it and enforcement outcomes; one stop-sign complaint led to seven citations, four verbal warnings and one written warning over a total of 9.3 hours of observation.
Council members asked whether the department follows up with complainants; Howard said the department’s new traffic software allows staff to email results back to a complainant or allow the complainant to review the data in person.
No formal council action was taken on the policing updates; discussion focused on procurement for cruiser upfits and use of data to prioritize enforcement.
