Police and fire outline equipment, training and new programs funded by public safety sales tax

Police and fire leaders used the workshop to report on 2026 work and to outline FY27 priorities that rely in part on public-safety sales tax funding approved earlier this year.

Police Chief described completed jail-security upgrades, a new body scanner, evidence-room shelving and deployment of 12 license-plate readers. He said the department is in early feasibility work on drones for pursuit mitigation and is purchasing overt public cameras and considering a revived motorcycle unit for traffic enforcement. The chief also flagged plans for a rapid-DNA system to shorten forensic turnaround times and an analytics pilot to improve case updates and internal-affairs responsiveness.

Fire leadership said the department has invested in EV-rescue equipment, water-rescue training, and is progressing on replacement apparatus and targeted station upgrades. The fire chief highlighted a proposed community paramedicine program designed to dovetail with the police department’s co-responder mental-health unit and regional partners; the program aims to reduce repeated emergency responses by serving vulnerable populations in the community.

Both chiefs noted implementation steps: phased training on new equipment, grant searches for specialized programs, and continued monitoring of staffing and vehicle needs as Proposition-funded hiring increases department ranks. No formal votes were taken at the workshop; chiefs asked council for continued support as staff develops cost estimates and implementation plans.

Next step: departments will return with implementation costs, grant prospects, and scheduling details to be folded into the FY27 budgeting process.