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Police leaders say code-enforcement move improved consistency; officers report rising caseload
Summary
Police Chief Dean Morgan and Code Enforcement Officer Grant Bryans told the Board that integrating code enforcement into the Police Department improved oversight and accountability; Bryans said two officers handled 83 code-enforcement calls in May 2026 and that enforcement activity nearly doubled in early 2026 versus prior years.
Police Chief Dean Morgan and Code Enforcement Officer Grant Bryans told the Buena Vista Board of Trustees on June 9 that moving code enforcement into the Police Department has strengthened oversight and standardized procedures, improving “consistency, accountability, and transparency.”
Bryans reported that the department responded to 645 calls for service in May 2026, including 83 code-enforcement calls — about 13% of the total — handled by two code enforcement officers. He said the department recorded 160 code-enforcement calls in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 85 during the same period in both 2024 and 2025, reflecting a near doubling of enforcement activity.
Chief Morgan outlined benefits of the 2022 transition, saying the change created a formal chain of command, standardized policies, structured training, supervisor oversight and the use of body-worn cameras. He also described the role code enforcement officers play in supporting police operations, citing assistance at traffic accidents, emergency incidents and nuisance complaints.
The presentation shifted to enforcement of dog leash and at-large regulations. Bryans noted the leash requirement for dogs on public property and said most violations are resolved through education and voluntary compliance. He described potential public-safety concerns tied to off-leash dogs — including attacks and injuries — and summarized the Town's procedures for investigating vicious-dog complaints, which can include quarantine, municipal-court summonses and coordination with the Ark-Valley Humane Society for impoundment when warranted.
Trustees discussed repeat offenders, impoundment challenges and whether existing penalties are adequate. Several trustees expressed support for increased enforcement when owners are not carrying a leash and requested comparisons of dog-at-large fines in similar communities. Staff said they would return with recommendations on potential updates to fines and related enforcement provisions.
The work-session material was presented as information; trustees did not adopt new penalties at the meeting.
