Rutland select board refers fingerprint‑machine purchase to police committee after divided remarks
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Summary
After heated discussion about officer safety and budget timing, the board asked the Police Committee to re-evaluate buying an in‑house AFIS/fingerprint machine and possible funding sources; no purchase motion was made.
The Rutland Select Board on Nov. 4 agreed to refer a request to buy an in‑house automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) back to the Police Committee for further study rather than vote on a purchase at the meeting.
The issue drew sharp exchange among select board members about timing and funding. Supporters argued the machine would reduce risky prisoner transfers and speed investigations; opponents said budget timing and competing capital needs mean the purchase should wait and be analyzed in committee. "It would make life a lot easier for us if the AFIS machine was there," said Ed Dumas, the town police chief, summarizing operational benefits.
Board members and staff discussed several possible funding paths: identifying vacancy savings in the current police budget, using monies from the Cortina fund, or building the cost into next year’s capital planning. One select board member estimated the equipment cost in the range of about $18,000–$20,000 and noted there would also be ongoing annual maintenance obligations to budget for.
Rather than take an immediate vote, the board asked the Police Committee to examine the machine’s specifications, total cost (purchase plus annual maintenance), and possible budget offsets and to return with recommendations before authorizing any purchase. The board chair framed the decision as an effort to treat departments equitably while also weighing officer safety concerns.
Next steps: the Police Committee will re-review the AFIS request and report back to the full board; no purchase was authorized at the Nov. 4 meeting.
