Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Police topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police budget includes grant-funded patrol boat, more body cameras and vehicle purchases
Summary
Police officials told the council they expect to buy a replacement patrol boat with a $276,000 federal port‑security grant, outfit more officers with body‑worn cameras and replace aging patrol vehicles; training budgets may fall as new state training programs mature.
St. Clair Shores — Deputy Chief Matt McAllister and police staff presented the police department’s draft 2025–26 budget at the April 28 hearing, describing steady call volumes and several planned capital and technology purchases.
McAllister said calls for service were “around 20,000” for the reporting period, and that the department has hired officers to replace planned retirements. He told the council the department won a federal port‑security grant of about $276,000 to be used toward a new patrol boat: “That would only go towards the purchase of the new police boat,” McAllister said.
The police budget includes continuing payments on long‑term technology programs and a capital request to pay off outstanding balances for body‑worn and in‑car cameras purchased in 2023; the department told the council it plans to buy an additional 24 body‑worn cameras to outfit officers for special events and is budgeting for the purchase of four new patrol vehicles and two narcotics vehicles (funded from the drug forfeiture fund). McAllister also said the department is finalizing a request for soft‑cost funding connected to the new police building.
McAllister described an expected decrease in the department’s training line item because of new state programs that provide training credits or state‑provided courses; he cautioned that the program is new and will evolve. Councilmembers asked whether training expenses would still be incurred and whether the state program provides reimbursement or direct training; staff said the program may provide in‑state classes at no cost, and there is potential for the city to host approved training classes in future years.
Council members asked about a county‑level Elder Justice Alliance and whether the police could help share learnings; McAllister said detectives attend county meetings and the department will share resources as they become available.
No action was taken on the department budget at the hearing; staff will return with final numbers when contract negotiations and capital planning are complete.
