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Parlier council weighs police staffing cuts, Measure Q use and equipment purchases
Summary
Council discussed reducing police positions by three filled vacancies and 1.5 jailer FTE while emphasizing minimum shift staffing; Measure Q oversight recommended moving personnel out of the ballot account and funding equipment through grant or other allocations.
Council and staff debated police staffing levels and the use of Measure Q at the June 11 workshop. The finance presentation proposed not filling three vacant sworn officer positions and 1.5 jailer FTE, part of a 4.5‑position reduction citywide in the police department.
The Police Chief told council that the department is operating at minimum staffing levels, with typically two officers per shift and three officers on some weekend shifts, and that several funded positions are filled but out on medical leave. “The issue with the police department and staffing is not the number of positions, it is the number of available police officers,” the Chief said, noting an entire shift is out on medical leave.
Council discussed Measure Q, the public-safety dedicated ballot measure. An oversight committee presentation summarized that the committee has recommended removing ongoing personnel costs from Measure Q and recommended using Measure Q as voters intended — principally for equipment and one‑time needs. Staff listed a proposed contract with a vendor (Axon or similarly named firm in the presentation) at roughly $120,000 per year, a one‑time $20,000 handgun purchase and about $50,000 in office furniture; staff said the department is seeking to fund some items from other sources before drawing on Measure Q.
Council asked staff for a written finding from the oversight committee at the next meeting and confirmation that Measure Q language and allocation comply with voter intent. No formal votes were taken at the workshop; staff will return the draft budget and related Measure Q materials for council action.
