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Police present multiple staffing and tech requests as calls and Samsung-related incidents rise
Summary
The police department asked the council to fund a problem‑oriented policing unit, a patrol lieutenant, a property/evidence technician, an additional telecommunicator, cell‑phone extraction software and crime‑scene reconstruction tools; staff emphasized a sharp rise in calls for service and Samsung‑related activity.
Police leadership told the council the department has seen a marked rise in calls for service—including thousands of Samsung‑related incidents over the last two years—and presented a package of personnel and technical requests intended to address investigative, evidence‑management and patrol supervision needs.
Key requests included a problem‑oriented policing (POPS) unit (start‑up costs, vehicle and equipment), a patrol lieutenant as a middle‑management role, a dedicated property and evidence technician to process and manage digital and physical evidence, an additional communications (dispatcher) position for 24/7 coverage, and specialized investigative tools such as cell‑phone extraction software and a laser scanner/crime‑scene reconstruction package.
Police staff said the POPS pilot previously produced measurable improvements when run temporarily and described the property/evidence function as time‑consuming and increasingly dominated by digital evidence: the department reported more than 1,000 requests for digital evidence last year. The department also said dependency on external agencies to process cell‑phone extractions places Taylor in queues and delays prosecutions.
Command staff asked the council to consider an in‑house technical support presence because policing now relies on many technology systems (records management, CAD, body and in‑car cameras, mobile data) that require more reliable 24/7 technical response than the current outsourced arrangement provides.
Ending: City manager recommended funding one additional officer to increase visible patrol coverage in parks and downtown; other positions and equipment requests were presented for council consideration as part of FY26 deliberations.
