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Police and fire outline 2026 safety upgrades: body scanner, evidence tech, phased rifle purchases
Summary
Police and fire chiefs briefed council on completed and proposed public-safety investments, including a planned jail body scanner, requests for a second evidence technician, phased replacement of patrol rifles and expanded training and emergency-response upgrades for fire personnel.
Police and fire leaders used the budget work session to present safety-focused capital and personnel proposals they want included in FY2026 planning.
Police Chief Pearson said his department had completed 2025 priorities (a crime-tip line and co-responder program) and is requesting specific items next year, including installation of a full-body scanner at the jail to detect concealed contraband and a phased purchase of patrol rifles (about 14 per year by phase). "That body scanner is gonna work wonders for us," he said, adding the equipment is noninvasive and intended to improve accountability and safety.
Pearson also asked for a second full-time evidence technician after an accreditation review recommended redundancy to protect chain-of-custody continuity. He outlined an expansion of license-plate reader cameras and the bike platoon initiative funded through public-safety sales-tax proceeds.
Fire Chief Azelle reported a broad set of training and readiness initiatives: sustained mental-health support for personnel, special-operations upgrades (swift-water and ice-rescue capability), replacement and maintenance of apparatus and equipment, a proposed facility-replacement plan for Station 3, and a citywide risk-assessment to inform station locations and prevention activity. He also proposed forming a coalition with health partners and nonprofits to coordinate services for people experiencing homelessness to reduce emergency-call burdens.
Council members asked about costs and near-term steps; staff said some items will be presented with budget costs in August and others will be phased. No formal vote was taken; chiefs were asked to include cost estimates and implementation timelines in the written budget proposals.
The presentation emphasized that some items are programmatic (training, staff) while others are capital investments that would draw down fund reserves unless offset by grants or renewed local-sales-tax revenue.
