South Bloomfield delays cruiser replacement, authorizes police equipment purchases

Police Chief Ken McCoy told the Village of South Bloomfield Council on Aug. 5 that the village received approximately $18,000 from insurance for a cruiser that had been totaled earlier this year and asked to postpone buying a replacement until 2025 because the cruiser had already been budgeted for next year.

Chief McCoy asked instead to spend available funds this year on a list of equipment he called “much-needed.” He identified the purchases and costs in the meeting record: $3,200 for two-factor authentication for radios; $2,000 for a secure deck system for a truck cruiser; $5,000 annually for two "Warrants Now" licenses ($2,500 each); $1,000 for a secure trunk box and push bumper (to be installed by Parr Public Safety); $800 for an ammo-can safe; $1,200 for two additional sets of stop sticks; $1,550 for an AED for the municipal building; and $550 for evidence supplies. The council voted unanimously to approve the purchases.

Chief McCoy said officers are sharing cruisers across shifts to manage operations while the department is down one full-time officer; he said the vacant position is in background screening and that Officer Francis often volunteers overtime to cover vacations. The council did not identify a mover/second for the equipment motion in the meeting record; the minutes state that "all council voted to approve the purchase of the requested equipment."

Next steps: Procurement to proceed as directed by the police department and fiscal officer; recurring costs for the Warrants Now licenses should be budgeted in future fiscal planning.