Police annual report shows steady activity; mayor says timing and cost for NextGen 911 remain uncertain
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The Bryan Police Chief reported steady year-over-year activity and several grants; Mayor cautioned that NextGen 911 implementation timing and costs are uncertain and said staff will return with firm vendor estimates before making budget decisions.
The Police Chief delivered the department's annual report on March 2, telling the Bryan City Council the department handled 264 car crashes, issued 563 citations and 605 traffic warnings, and answered a total of 9,202 calls for service over the past year. "As you can see, we had handled 264 car crashes," the Police Chief said, summarizing the statistics included in the council packet.
The chief outlined personnel and training changes, saying the department hired multiple officers and dispatch staff over the year and logged more than 1,300 hours of training on topics from ethics and trauma response to active‑shooter response. He said the department has 13 vehicles (nine marked, four unmarked) and reported an uptick in oral‑fluid (OBI) subject tests, with 48 subjects tested on the new machine and a 25% increase compared with the previous year. He also listed grant awards, including a bulletproof‑vest grant and a body‑worn camera grant.
The report prompted a broader discussion about NextGen 911. The Mayor said the next generation system "will geocatch the cell phone numbers" and route cell‑phone 911 calls differently, but warned the timetable and vendor availability remain uncertain. "We're not sure that that's completely accurate...the state's not a 100% whether it's gonna happen this year or not," the Mayor said, adding that staff are still awaiting vendor quotes and cost estimates.
The Mayor and the Police Chief both said the city is considering options and will involve council as firm numbers arrive; the Mayor also noted that relinquishing the city's PSAP (public safety answering point) would require county‑commissioner approval and could mean losing other local dispatch services the city now provides. "We will look for the best service for our community at the best price," the Mayor said, and added that officials do not yet have adequate numbers to present for deliberation.
No final decision on consolidation or funding for NextGen 911 was taken at the meeting. Council members were told staff will return with vendor quotes and budgetary options once those details are available.