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Deputy chief warns aging fleet, asks council to fund a vehicle and taser upgrades
Summary
The police department asked the council to fund one replacement vehicle or a short-term lease, upfit a second K9 from fleet reserves, and adopt a new Axon taser package that would include cartridges and reduce training cartridge costs.
Deputy chief presented the police department’s 2026 budget requests, stressing that deferred vehicle replacements are increasing maintenance burdens and operational risk. He asked the council to consider funding one patrol vehicle for $58,542 (with outfitting costs cited) or a four-year lease option that would raise 2026 lease costs but lower some later-year payments.
Why it matters: staff said older cruisers are being kept in service past typical lifespans — one vehicle noted at about 105,000 miles with a motor at 88,000 miles — forcing a recent in-house motor transplant and higher maintenance. The department argued replacing the oldest unit would reduce downtime and long-term repair expense.
The deputy chief also described plans to upfit a second K9 vehicle from an existing newer vehicle in the fleet rather than buying a dedicated new K9 unit, and said that upfit will not require 2026 capital funds because it can be covered from the current maintenance budget.
On non-vehicle equipment, staff said current tasers are obsolete and no longer repairable. The department proposes purchasing a newer Axon bundle that includes training cartridges and an option to sync taser events with cameras. “Our tasers are obsolete. They’re not functional. They’re not repairable,” the deputy chief said, and staff recommended budgeting for about 20 new tasers to begin replacing the worst-conditioned units while retaining older devices for low-use roles (interview rooms, detective bureau).
Council members asked about lifecycle assumptions and training costs; staff said Axon quotes a five-year useful life but locally some units have lasted 10–12 years. The Axon package was described as reducing recurring cartridge expense because vendor replacement for used cartridges is included in the bundle.
The presentation also requested restoring a civilian records/admin position lost after retirements and role consolidations; staff said adding one civilian would reduce backlog and help prepare for a reaccreditation due in approximately two years. “We lost that additional position,” the deputy chief said, adding the department had to outsource during the last reaccreditation and hopes to avoid that expense this time.
The council did not take a vote on the request; staff said the items would be reviewed again as the budget process continues and councilors could adjust the proposed rates and funding allocations before final adoption.
