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Police chief proposes replacing lieutenant line with cruiser to lower budget growth
Summary
Brentwood police Chief Doty reported staffing is at nine full‑time officers and outlined a revised budget that removes a proposed lieutenant hire while restoring a cruiser purchase. The change reduces the department’s overall requested increase from about 11.5% to under 8%.
Brentwood Police Chief Doty updated the board on the police budget, saying the department is fully staffed at nine full‑time officers and three part‑time officers and recommending a budget change that would remove a proposed lieutenant position in favor of reinstating a cruiser purchase.
Why it matters: The change affects the town’s operating budget and could lower the overall year‑to‑year increase voters will see at town meeting.
What the chief said: Doty reported the department is effectively full‑staffed and that two corporal promotions are planned. He said he would prefer not to fill a tenth full‑time officer at this time and instead restore a cruiser that had been cut to reduce costs earlier. Doty told the board that after reworking numbers he could bring the overall police budget increase down from about 11.5% to “less than 7½ percent” by removing the lieutenant line and adding the cruiser back. He said the department will seek grants (COPS) to support any future staffing increases where possible.
Board follow-up: The chair asked Doty to provide finalized numbers before town meeting showing the net effect of removing the lieutenant position and adding the cruiser so budget materials can be adjusted. The board discussed potential health‑insurance budget adjustments as a separate follow‑up.
Ending: Chief Doty will supply updated budget figures to the town staff for incorporation into the operating budget presentation.
