Grosse Ile police present annual report, warn of budget shortfall and aging equipment

The Grosse Ile Police Department on Jan. 21 gave commissioners a year-end report showing roughly 10,000 incoming station calls in 2024, rising equipment and training costs and several urgent capital needs that officials said could create a budget shortfall for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Chief (name not stated) told the Police Commission the department recorded 10,651 incoming phone calls in 2024 during his presentation and later staff said the department’s call-recording system (Equiture) counted 10,150 calls for the year. The department also reported declines in some call-for-service categories, a rise in certain citations and steady OWI arrests.

The presentation highlighted technology and facility issues that staff said require near-term funding. The department installed its first body-worn camera system and upgraded in-car cameras with Axon equipment paid from federal forfeiture funds, and it used federal and other grants for records and evidence-room upgrades. But staff said the department’s internal analog phone system is end-of-life, laptops in the fleet date from about 2018 and a back-up generator installed in 1992 is at risk of failure in cold weather.

“I'm gonna retire — this is my retirement date in one year from now,” the chief said, announcing he intends to leave in roughly 12 months and asking the commission to begin a hiring process so a successor is selected by Dec. 1. He said he wants a transition window so the incoming chief can be trained on databases, logins and responsibilities.

Commissioners and staff discussed millage revenue mechanics and how Headlee-type reductions and annual property-value projections affect how much the department can collect from existing millages. The chief and staff presented a projected shortfall (figures described as projections and industry assumptions) tied to an expected 8% healthcare cost increase used in the draft budget forecast and to limits on collectable mills, which the presentation listed as 6.6 mills gross and a collectible amount of about 5.79 mills after statutory adjustments.

Staff also outlined several capital projects and cost estimates: replacement or major repair of the public-safety building generator (staff gave a very approximate cost range, discussed potential procurement and RFP support from the township’s engineering firm), replacement of aging VoIP/analog phone equipment and in-car laptops, and minor building repairs (rusted metal plates, leaking gutters and door seals). The chief said construction projects cannot be paid from federal forfeiture funds and described plans to mix funding sources — state forfeiture, fire department contributions, cell-tower funds and department funds — to pay for large items if necessary.

Personnel updates included the announced internal sergeant assignment for Officer Greg Carroll (described as announced to the department and subject to internal seniority and transition timing), hiring of Officer Nate White in April 2024, the recent hire of secretary Wendy Robledo and reserve program updates (Jeremy Gatt graduated from the academy and joined the reserves in a probationary status). Staff said they will post for a detective-bureau vacancy after internal letters of interest and in-house interviews.

Commission member Margaret (last name not stated) reported she completed ride-alongs with day and midnight shifts and with dispatch staff and urged that the department’s on-scene medical and community response work be emphasized publicly as part of future millage outreach. “I was very impressed,” she said of officers’ assessment and care during a medical run she observed.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the agenda as amended — moved, seconded; voice vote "Aye"; approved. - Motion to approve the minutes of Dec. 17 regular police commission meeting — moved, seconded; voice vote "Aye"; approved. - Motion to accept department reports — moved, seconded; voice vote "Aye"; approved. - Motion to adjourn — moved, seconded; motion approved.

The presentation and discussion ended with commissioners agreeing to share the department’s budget materials with the township board and to consider bringing the chief’s budget presentation to the board so elected township officials and the public see the department’s projected needs and service levels.