Police chief reports staffing gains and outlines quality-of-life push as committee probes overtime and lost grants
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Summary
Chief Maurice Aguilar told the Budget & Finance Committee the department has improved retention and is increasing recruitment but remains understrength by roughly two dozen officers. The committee reviewed year-to-date budget variances, flagged overtime and vacation buyback overruns, and asked for follow-up on lost grants and the budgetary impact of the new police headquarters.
Police Chief Maurice Aguilar and support‑services director Rosa Shepard presented a year‑to‑date review of the Lawrence Police Department budget at the Budget & Finance meeting on March 11. Chief Aguilar said the department has seen “100% retention” since his arrival—reporting no officers left in approximately nine months—while simultaneously noting the department remains understaffed by roughly 24–25 positions, a shortfall that continues to drive overtime costs.
The chief also outlined operational changes and cost controls he has implemented: eliminating unnecessary cable subscriptions, downsizing specialized units to core, mission‑critical staffing, emphasizing “train‑the‑trainer” approaches to reduce outside-training costs, and scrutinizing fleet repair and accident claims. He identified several line‑item savings but also acknowledged increases in vehicle repair costs and legacy invoices carried from prior years.
Committee members pressed for specifics. Councilors asked whether the department anticipates requesting supplemental appropriations to cover overtime and vacation buybacks; city finance staff said they are monitoring timing differences and reimbursements and do not yet expect a transfer beyond current availability. Councilors also questioned a range of grant issues: the body‑worn camera grant negotiations stalled with unions in prior contract talks; a DPH mental‑health outreach grant previously available was forfeited in 2023 and will need careful future pursuit.
Chief Aguilar described a shift toward quality‑of‑life enforcement, including stronger noise enforcement and targeted traffic enforcement weeks, supported by the district attorney and new ordinance amendments. He said the new police headquarters—planned to be occupied late April—will increase utilities and maintenance spending (the department projected increases in repair/maintenance of roughly $29,000 and electricity around $10,000) but may see some offsets from rooftop solar and efficiency measures.
Follow-up: Committee members asked the department and finance staff for a monthly reconciliation of overtime and grant reimbursements, an accounting of the police chief’s discretionary special account, and a line‑by‑line mapping of recent cost savings Chief Aguilar cited. They also urged the chief to reopen body‑worn camera discussions with union leadership and to provide more detail on how quality‑of‑life enforcement will be resourced.