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Gunnison Valley Police Department reports steady call volumes, vehicle strategy and evidence-room upgrades
Summary
Police chief presented annual calls-for-service trends, staffing implications, vehicle replacement strategy favoring trucks over SUVs to save ~$15,000 per unit, evidence-room consolidation and body-camera upgrades funded largely by a grant.
Gunnison Valley Police Department leadership briefed the council on calls for service trends, staffing considerations, fleet strategy, and evidence-management improvements.
The department presented multi-year calls-for-service data showing a decline from 2020 through 2023 with a modest increase in 2024; the chief said current levels remain below the department's historical peak and that a substantial increase (to roughly 1,200—150 calls per year) would be required before discussing expanded staffing. The chief also noted the city accounts for approximately 60—62% of the department's call volume, with the remainder coming from Centerfield and other outlying calls.
On fleet replacement, the chief said the department plans to purchase pickup trucks rather than SUVs because trucks were quoted about $15,000 less per vehicle on state contract (example: truck ~$50,000 vs. Tahoe ~$65,000) and are immediately available; he said Tahoes have a long lead time (availability into 2026). The department expects to move toward owning its fleet over the next two to three years to save interest and financing costs.
The chief reported completion of an evidence consolidation: all evidence moved into the department's evidence room, about 70% cataloged and tagged. He described procedures for evidence handling: two staff members present when logging evidence, camera monitoring of the evidence room, separate locked narcotics storage and transfer to county incineration, and photographic and weight documentation for drug evidence.
The department has received grant funding to purchase new body-worn cameras that will be supported for five years by a grant, and new computers were ordered. The chief also mentioned work with local media to provide training resources for the police board and council members on oversight responsibilities.
Council members asked about suspect identification and charging in a recent larceny series; the chief said investigators had a suspect from outside the county but lacked sufficient evidence to pursue charges, and incidents decreased after the investigation concentrated on that individual.
No formal council action related to staffing or vehicle procurement was recorded during the meeting; those items were presented as informational updates.
