Newport Police propose deputy chief and $22.7M budget as records, cameras and traffic enforcement costs rise

Police Chief Ryan Duffy told the Newport City Council that the Police Department’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 is $22,700,000, with a projected increase through 2027 driven chiefly by salary and fringe-cost pressures and planned technology changes.

Duffy said the department is reporting 83 sworn officers and outlined a staffing proposal that includes a new deputy chief position. He said the department’s annual calls for service were 31,294 last year, arrests numbered about 1,100, and traffic enforcement contacts totaled 6,206 in 2024.

Duffy described the deputy-chief role as a line of operational oversight and continuity in command: the deputy would “act as a critical link between the chief of police and our department's various divisions, helping translate the chief's vision into operational practices,” and would “oversee the day to day operations, allowing the chief to focus on long term planning, policy development, and external partnerships,” according to his presentation.

The budget summary presented multiple notable line-item changes. Salaries and related costs are the largest driver of the 13.4% two-year increase the department projects. Duffy said the department included a projected $1,500,000 increase to base pay and expects fringe costs to rise about 9% over the next two years. Overtime and directed-enforcement overtime funding was increased roughly $30,000, and modest increases were proposed for a fitness incentive and temporary/seasonal pay.

Technology and contract changes are also slated to add recurring costs. Duffy said the state is moving police departments off an older IMC records-management system onto a single, newer platform; Newport’s share will increase contract services by roughly $60,000 annually. He also warned a state grant that has covered most of the department’s body-worn camera program will end in 2027; if not renewed, the city would face about $107,000 a year to continue the program. The department is planning incremental purchases to finish equipping detectives and some administrative staff with cameras.

Other capital and equipment items in the police presentation included continuation of investigative technologies (forensic extraction tools and license-plate-reader deployments pending state DOT approvals) and an elevator upgrade for department headquarters. Duffy said the department is incrementally funding body-worn cameras and planned a five-year rotation for ballistic-vest replacement.

Council members asked for revenue projections tied to citations and enforcement. Finance staff later supplied a projection of $1,400,000 of additional police-related revenue, a figure Duffy said he did not have at the podium. Councilors also pressed for details about the deputy chief position, including whether the city would promote internally. Duffy said he hopes to hire from within “because we have a bench of very good talent,” but that human resources and the city solicitor were working on job specifications and the hiring process.

Council discussion also touched on community partnerships. Duffy described cooperation with Newport County Mental Health and Family Services Rhode Island — staff who ride with officers on some calls — and said the department’s community policing unit coordinates with recently created city community-liaison positions to address chronic neighborhood problems such as graffiti and wildlife complaints. He said the department participates in a situation-table model with other city partners to coordinate services for people in crisis.

Chief Duffy and councilors agreed the budget contains both one-time and ongoing items that will require monitoring as collective-bargaining outcomes become final. Duffy noted his two-year projections incorporated anticipated contract changes but said the department’s figures reflect current best estimates.

The council took the presentation as budget information and did not vote on any new positions during the session. City staff said they are preparing job descriptions and will return with details as the budget process moves forward.