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Police chief reports stable call volume, evidence-room consolidation and new body cameras
Summary
The police chief told the council that calls for service have remained below the department’s historic peak, staff have consolidated and cataloged evidence into a new evidence room, and grant funding will cover most of the cost of new body cameras and upgraded computers for several years.
The Gunnison Valley Police Department presented an annual review of calls for service and operational updates, describing trends since the department’s 2017 formation and outlining equipment and evidence-management improvements.
The chief said call volumes dropped between 2020 and 2023 and rose modestly in 2024, but remain below the department’s historic peak. He said the city currently handles roughly 60–62% of local calls while neighboring jurisdictions account for the remainder, and staff do not yet see the sustained surge that would justify adding sworn positions.
On fleet and equipment, the chief said recent pricing and state-contract availability make light trucks about $15,000 less than SUVs such as Chevrolet Tahoes; the department is planning a gradual transition toward owning a full fleet in two to three years to avoid loan expense on replacements.
Evidence-room operations have been centralized: the department moved most evidence into a dedicated evidence room and cataloged and tagged roughly 70% of material. The chief described procedures for handling narcotics, including dual custody for narcotics containers, photographic and weight documentation and transfer to the county for incineration.
The department is also acquiring new body cameras and upgraded computers; the chief said a grant covers most camera costs for the next five years and promised rapid replacement for broken computers.
Councilors asked about evidence-room access and procedural safeguards; the chief explained two-person custody and camera monitoring for the evidence area. He also answered questions about staffing thresholds and said the department would revisit staffing if calls rise substantially.
Next steps: staff will finish cataloging the remaining evidence and proceed with fleet and equipment purchases under the stated procurement and capital-planning timeline.
