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Hamilton police warn fleet shortfalls and training cuts could strain patrols
Summary
At an April 4 budget workshop, police leaders told council members that cuts to vehicle replacement and training could leave patrol cars overused and increase maintenance and safety risks; councilors discussed using extra-duty trust funds and reassigning smaller line items to partially restore training money.
Hamilton Township police leaders told the mayor and council at an April 4 budget workshop that a recent reduction in capital vehicle purchases and cuts to training lines could create operational strain for the patrol division.
Chief of Police (unnamed in the record) said the department requested 10 marked patrol vehicles for the year but the mayor reduced that request to five, and warned this level of replacement is not enough for the fleet’s heavy usage. "I have to disagree strongly with us when we're being authorized to purchase 5, 5 vehicles... 10 is basically 50% of our patrol fleet," the chief said, explaining that many patrol cars accumulate roughly 46,000 miles a year and typically reach high mileage within two years of heavy use.
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