Police report highlights records workload and large drug seizure; city finishes NG911 mapping to avoid fund withholding

Warr Acres — At its Sept. 16 meeting the Warr Acres Police Department reported an ongoing increase in staff time devoted to records production and described recent major drug seizures, while council members discussed a state‑led NextGen 911 mapping requirement that the city moved quickly to meet.

Police chief (identified in the meeting as the department’s chief) told the council that staff logged roughly 130 hours in a recent month producing video and other records for the district attorney’s office and records requests. "That was 130 hours. I do not foresee that that would be going down," the chief said, noting the time burden results from redacting body camera and dash camera footage and handling rising public records demands. Council members pressed whether those workloads will require a dedicated records or administrative position; the chief said a full‑time administrative employee is likely necessary to handle the ongoing workload.

The chief also highlighted a major narcotics enforcement result: officers seized approximately 2,443 grams of fentanyl and about 348.5 grams of heroin — plus quantities of cocaine and marijuana — after a citizen’s call prompted investigation. The chief described the seizure as the result of follow‑up to suspicious activity and credited the calling resident and investigators for the result.

On emergency communications, the council heard that the state is moving municipalities onto NextGen 911 and required updated GIS mapping. The mayor reported that state examiners had warned they would withhold or escrow 911 fund disbursements until municipal mapping was current. The city contracted with consultant SRB on an emergency basis; SRB completed the mapping update in time to avoid state action, staff said. City planners indicated the work is reimbursable and that the city will pursue ACOG and state 911 reimbursements.

The council also accepted a $4,000 Walmart Spark Good grant that Walmart requested be split between police and fire. Fire Chief Coy (introduced by the mayor) brought the physical check to the council meeting and staff said Walmart’s program now requires a grant application rather than informal donations; city staff described the process as more time‑consuming but said the grant funds had been received and split among the departments.

What’s next: Police and the city will continue to track records‑production hours and pursue funding or staffing changes if the workload remains high. The city will file for reimbursement of NextGen 911 expenses and will move forward with any additional state requests related to mapping.