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Police chief outlines staffing shortfalls, large overtime and planned use of forfeiture funds for body cameras
Summary
Chief Gazowski presented a police budget with $7.88 million in salaries, separated overtime accounts ($950,000 department; $300,000 traffic safety), noted a drop from 90 to 71 budgeted officers since 2019–20 with a 53% rise in calls for service, and identified forfeiture funds (beginning balance $1.387M) to pay for Axon body cameras.
Jubal Heights’ police chief told the council the department faces continued staffing shortfalls and rising operational demands as he presented the department’s proposed budget.
Chief Gazowski said the salaries account aligns with the personnel pages at $7,884,754 and described two overtime categories: regular department overtime ($950,000) and a traffic safety program overtime account ($300,000). He noted the department is contractually required to budget certain command positions and explained some positions will be converted from sworn to civilian roles in recent years.
On staffing levels, Gazowski said the department was budgeted for about 90 officers in 2019–20 and is now budgeted for 71 — “about a 21% decrease in staffing” — while calls for service have increased roughly 53%. “The police department has been systematically essentially defunded,” the chief said during the presentation, framing the staffing trend in historical context.
Gazowski described fleet and equipment needs: the patrol fleet’s average model year is 2020 with roughly 70,000 miles per vehicle, and the department typically requests five to 10 replacement vehicles per year, though purchases may be deferred to prioritize repairs.
On technology and funding sources, the chief and staff explained that half of the Axon body‑camera contract hits contractual services and half is recorded elsewhere; the department intends to spend $470,552 from forfeiture funds for Axon equipment. Staff presented the forfeiture beginning fund balance as $1,387,000 and projected an ending balance near $916,000 after planned expenditures, noting the administration did not assume significant future forfeiture revenue in projections.
Councilors asked about discovery processes, training and contract transitions (including replacement of Code Red with Civic Plus for notifications). The chief and staff said Motorola radios require replacement and that financing options would be presented separately.
No formal staffing hires or budget amendments were approved at the meeting; councilors and staff indicated additional follow‑up would be scheduled.
