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Pacific aldermen approve purchases of police weapons and vehicles after budget debate
Summary
Pacific’s Board of Aldermen approved several resolutions on Oct. 1 to buy weapons, vehicle equipment and three police SUVs, after debate over budget procedure, account codes and urgency to secure available vehicles.
Pacific’s Board of Aldermen voted Oct. 1 to approve multiple purchases for the Pacific Police Department, including weapons, vehicle equipment and three 2024 Dodge Durango pursuit SUVs, after a lengthy discussion over budget procedure and timing.
The board approved Resolution 2024-29 to procure weapons from Kaiser (as read by the clerk), with a corrected dollar figure reflected in the motion. Attorney Jones explained an accounting-code discrepancy and clarified that ammunition purchases would be a separate order. The board amended the resolution’s amount to reflect the vendor’s final quote and approved the amended resolution by voice vote.
The most contested action was Resolution 2024-30, a budget amendment to purchase three Dodge Durango pursuit vehicles from Landmark Dodge (Independence). Several aldermen pressed for delaying the amendment to convert future budget modifications to ordinances rather than resolutions. Attorney Jones cited Missouri statutory authority (Section 67.030) allowing budget amendments by resolution, but some members said they preferred the formality of an ordinance for significant changes. Board members also debated urgency: Public-safety staff said vehicles are scarce on dealer lots and that delay could increase the price or cause loss of the units.
In the end, a motion to table the vehicle purchase failed and the board approved Resolution 2024-30 by voice vote. The board also approved Resolution 2024-31 to authorize purchase and installation of vehicle equipment.
Aldermen and staff noted that ammunition would be purchased separately at a later date once training needs were better defined. Major Lack thanked the board for the equipment purchases, saying they will help officers and “mean a lot to us downstairs and the public to keep them safe.”
What’s next: Attorney Jones and staff will bring back a redrafted budget amendment (Resolution 2024-32) as an ordinance for first reading on Oct. 15, per board direction, and any additional ammunition purchases or follow-up budget items will return to the board for approval.
