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Police chief seeks 22 FTEs, expands drones and real‑time crime center as overtime, RICO and records demand rise
Summary
Police Chief Joel Leduc asked the Budget Review Commission for staff and technology investments including 22 net new FTEs, expanded real‑time crime center capacity and continued drone operations; chief described overtime trends and a shrinking RICO fund affected by state law changes.
Police Chief Joel Leduc told the Budget Review Commission that the police department’s FY25‑26 request focuses on staffing to meet operational demands, technology to improve efficiency and a rebalancing of revenue sources used for specialized programs.
“My name is Joel Leduc, and I’m your police chief,” Leduc said as he opened his presentation. He framed the department’s approach around accreditation standards and data‑driven deployment tools, and he told commissioners the department seeks 22 net new full‑time equivalents for the coming year.
What the department asked for and why: - New FTEs: 22 net new positions to address critical needs including digital forensics, civilian investigators, restoration of several communications/dispatch positions, real‑time crime‑center (RTCC) staffing and three additional school resource officers (SROs). Leduc said the department has expanded civilian roles—police aides, crisis intervention specialists and civilian investigators—to reduce the cost of investigations and follow‑up work. - Technology and programs: continued investment in the RTCC, an expanded drone-as‑first‑responder program (roughly $612,000 annual ongoing cost cited for two units) and software/licenses (including a recorded Corona Solutions deployment model used for workload and deployment analysis). - Budget movement from restricted funds: Leduc said some charges previously paid from RICO or other restricted sources are shrinking due to legislative changes and cryptocurrency challenges; staff are beginning to move recurring costs (for example cellular airtime and RTCC functions) into the general fund.
Overtime and special events: Leduc showed overtime trending above budget in the current year, driven by vacancy coverage and critical incidents; he estimated the department will recover about $1.4 million through on‑duty cost reimbursement for large special events and explained the department has controls and approval levels for high amounts of overtime.
Records and evidence backlogs: the police records unit is operating with a backlog created in part by increased public records and body‑worn camera footage requests; Leduc requested two additional records specialists and a records supervisor to reduce turnaround time and to staff records 24/7.
Other operational notes: - The department is converting some sworn roles to civilian positions where practicable; Leduc said conversions in 2022 saved the department roughly $464,000 in that year. - The department is restoring dispatch staffing it had temporarily reallocated for capital work and RTCC start‑up. - The cash and grant pool used for civil asset forfeiture (RICO) is “shrinking” and staff cautioned legislative changes and cryptocurrency usage by criminals make that revenue less reliable.
Commissioner and staff exchange: commissioners asked for more detail on contractual services included in the police increase, how the department plans to redeploy personnel if a program such as photo enforcement disappeared through future state action, and for a clearer breakout of how much of new costs are ongoing vs. one‑time. Leduc said revenue recovery and contract billing for some events offset a portion of overtime and that the department has a formal process for assigning overtime and reviewing high‑hour employees.
What’s next: the commission kept the item on the review calendar for follow‑up as it prepares recommendations to council; staff requests and cost‑recovery assumptions will be examined further ahead of April 22.
