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Hoover Police ask for drones, more officers and $350,000 body-camera funding
Summary
The police department requested funding for two Paladin drones, five new officer positions, academy costs, upgrades to physical security and a multi-year body-camera budget.
Hoover Police presented multiple budget requests at the council's hearings, seeking funds for unmanned aerial systems, additional officer positions, body-worn camera program funding and a consolidated physical-security system for city buildings.
The department asked the council to fund continued operation of an existing Paladin drone ($54,000 ongoing) and to buy a second unit (approximately $35,000), plus about $15,000 in site preparation. The fire department offered to contribute $25,000 toward that purchase. The police also requested academy costs for eight recruits (tuition, room and board totaling about $33,600) and five new sworn positions; outfitting five officers would require about $13,500 each (approximately $67,500 total).
The department briefed council on a $350,000 funding need to cover years two through five of a multi-year contract for Axon body cameras after an anticipated federal grant did not materialize. The chief described the existing cameras as aging and unsupported, and said the annual contract is necessary to maintain coverage.
Staff also proposed a civilian physical-security specialist position to manage cameras and door-access systems that are currently administered piecemeal across many facilities. The department said the current workload rests with a police sergeant who performs multiple operational duties in addition to maintaining access control.
Command-level salary adjustments were requested to remain competitive with neighboring jurisdictions: upgrades for assistant chief, executive officer and three captain positions were discussed, as were compensation adjustments for an administrative assistant and the administrative services supervisor.
Presentations included comparative data showing Hoover's officers-per-thousand-residents ranking below median among the state's 25 largest cities and maps of response-time disparities concentrated on the city's western growth area. No formal votes were taken; policy and appropriation decisions will be made during budget negotiations.
