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Police seek replacement ballistic shields, rifles and crash‑reconstruction gear in CIP requests
Summary
The Wausau Police Department proposed a 2026 request for 10 fire‑rated ballistic shields ($60,000), and a 2027 proposal to replace service rifles (50 rifles, with suppressors) and replenishment of crash‑reconstruction equipment (about $60,000); the department said some current equipment is past manufacturer lifespan.
Wausau Police Department staff appeared before the committee on July 21 to lay out multiple equipment requests: replenishing ballistic shields, replacing service rifles in a future year and updating crash‑reconstruction tools.
A department firearms presenter said the current inventory of five ballistic shields is partially past manufacturer life and only three are rated for long‑gun threats; the department requested funds to purchase 10 fire‑rated shields and mount them in patrol vehicles to speed response. The quoted cost for 10 shields is approximately $60,000 for the 2026 ask.
On long‑guns, police said the department currently fields 47 Bushmaster rifles purchased in earlier rounds (2008 and 2017). Staff proposed procuring 50 newer rifles with suppressors, noting suppressors reduce hearing risk in the field and during training. The rifles request is planned for 2027 and staff discussed possibilities of phased purchases to avoid simultaneous obsolescence across the fleet.
The department also described aging measurement equipment used by the crash‑reconstruction team and asked for replacement gear so investigators can continue to produce scaled scene diagrams for court. The department said it has been able to borrow or use state patrol equipment for training but needs dependable, ownable assets for long‑term service; budget estimate given was about $60,000 for replacement equipment (requested for 2026).
Committee discussion covered training, equipment lifecycle, vehicle storage and deployment; members suggested considering phased purchases to spread cost and avoid all gear aging out simultaneously.
