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Police outline staffing plan, dispatch upgrade and modest operating change in budget workshop
Summary
Captain Rickas told the council the police operating budget shows a 4.3% change overall; the department plans to hire six officers this year to restore staffing and will migrate to a new computer-aided dispatch/records system with recurring annual cost.
Narragansett Police presented a departmental budget that the town packet showed as a 4.3% operating change overall; Captain Rickas described staffing needs and an anticipated technology upgrade that would increase recurring dispatch and records costs.
Captain Rickas said the department currently lists 43 sworn positions and is roughly six officers short because of retirements and resignations. He described plans to hire one lateral transfer in May and to send five recruits to the police academy beginning in August 2025, with an expected graduation in December 2025. Those hires, Captain Rickas said, would return the department to full staffing without creating new permanent positions.
The department’s packet includes line items for dispatch and public-safety technology. Captain Rickas described a statewide transition to a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records-management platform that would enable interoperable system-to-system communication. The department’s portion of the new software and implementation was listed in the packet with an initial-year capital/implementation figure and an annual maintenance cost — Captain Rickas cited a roughly $54,000 annual cost for the new system (the first year prorated lower because the department would onboard midyear). He explained the upgrade is not mandated but is becoming standard across regional departments to maintain interoperability.
Other modest increases cited included health and wellness benefits, tuition reimbursement and software maintenance. The department also budgeted for continuing community-service officers who issue parking enforcement during the summer season. Captain Rickas said some equipment and maintenance lines had increased for items such as vests and building repairs.
Councilors asked about the number of hires and whether the department planned any new positions. Captain Rickas confirmed the plan was to restore staffing to existing authorized levels (six hires planned for the year) and to rely on existing positions. No votes were taken. Councilors thanked department staff and said they would continue to review technology and personnel costs during upcoming workshops before the May public hearing.
