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Gunnison police report low major-crime rates, seek equipment upgrades and camera funding
Summary
City public-safety presenter said calls are returning to 2020 levels but major crimes remain low; he outlined needs for updated evidence-room and facility cameras, a shift from leased to owned vehicles, and reported a $25,000 grant for body-worn cameras.
Speaker 1 opened the public-safety update by saying the department’s busiest month was 2020 and that monthly call volumes are returning to those levels, but that major crimes remain rare. “We always keep that 0 at homicide,” Speaker 1 said, calling the statistic “perfect.”
Speaker 1 said proactive patrols and traffic enforcement have reduced speeding and generated investigatory leads: “You’ll find DUIs out there. We find… warrants,” he said, and added that officers use discretion to issue warnings about 40% of the time rather than citations. He told council members that increased visible patrols on Main Street have helped, and that coordination with highway patrol is informal and cooperative.
Turning to equipment and budget, Speaker 1 requested investment to reduce camera blind spots in the evidence room and at an exterior storage‑room door, argued for breaking the equipment line into more specific budget categories (computers, body cameras, vehicle equipment), and said he wants an interview/interrogation room. He also recommended buying rather than leasing vehicles to build a department fleet he said could be replaced on roughly a three‑year cycle.
Speaker 1 said staff secured a $25,000 grant to replace aging body‑worn cameras and reported an additional setup grant (noted in the briefing as about $5,400) to implement officer‑performance tracking. He proposed business cards with a QR code for people stopped during traffic enforcement to collect feedback, and explained the citizen rating system requires a citation or case number for low ratings to deter fraudulent submissions.
The presentation closed with Speaker 1 committing to targeted enforcement at requested locations, including 1st North and 3200 West, and a pledge to continue monthly public briefings.
