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Police accreditation, evidence upgrades and radios take center as council weighs timing
Summary
Staff outlined accreditation recommendations requiring upgrades to impound/evidence storage and proposed flashing police radios to a new county/DPS standard; the council deferred final decisions until an April 20 operational briefing but agreed to prioritize discussion of accreditation impacts and timing for $160,000 radio flashing.
A package of public‑safety capital items drew focused council scrutiny on March 16: staff described accreditation recommendations for the police department and a near‑term radios upgrade to maintain interoperability with county and state systems.
Staff said an accreditation audit recommended several security and evidence‑storage improvements — cameras, partitioning of evidence storage, fencing and improved lighting — to bring the impound yard and evidence room to industry standards and to strengthen prosecutorial chains of custody. "All of the things that were recommended were things that are in place at agencies across the state," a police representative said.
Separately, staff placed a $160,000 general‑fund request in the CIP to "flash" existing multiband radios so they can operate on the county's planned 800 MHz upgrade; full replacement of radios was projected in 2031 with a potential $950,000 purchase at that time. Council members asked to hear the chief’s accreditation briefing at an April 20 operational meeting before making further CIP year‑of‑project decisions.
Council members signaled broad support for addressing accreditation issues but limited the city's near‑term commitments until they receive clarified operational impacts, potential grant help and the department's April presentation.
