Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cheverly police budget emphasizes recruitment, body‑camera contract and operating reclassifications
Summary
Council heard police leadership present FY2026 needs including a contracted Axon body‑camera service, reclassification of fuel into the police budget, bilingual pay for officers and budgeting for two recruits; chiefs said recruitment and retention remain the department’s top challenge.
Cheverly police leadership walked the Mayor and Council through the department’s FY2026 budget on May 15, 2025, highlighting contract changes, staffing needs and cost‑saving measures.
The chief explained that a $261,000 reimbursable contract provides security at the nearby metro station and is cost neutral because the town is reimbursed. He also noted a new five‑year contract for Axon body‑camera services and equipment that carries an annual contract cost (presented in the packet as approximately $62,000). Fuel costs (about $45,000) were moved from public works into the police budget so the community would better see the department’s operating costs. The chief said he revised miscellaneous lines into specific categories — travel, materials and community engagement — to reflect actual spending patterns.
On staffing, the deputy chief gave a step‑by‑step outline of the hiring path for recruits: background investigations (about three months, including psychological and drug testing), an academy (about eight months), and field training of several months. He cautioned that the entire process can exceed a year and that not all candidates complete the academy, noting the department is budgeting for two recruits at about $7,500 per recruit for academy costs.
Chief (presenting) also described cost savings: the department resurrected six decommissioned patrol vehicles at a cost of about $25,000 each — an approach the chief said is saving the town money compared with buying new vehicles — and obtained loaned radios from the county that have deferred roughly $120,000 in replacement costs.
Council members acknowledged the regional recruitment pressure — staff said Prince George's County and other nearby agencies are understaffed, complicating local hiring — and thanked police leadership for steps taken to manage costs while maintaining service. Public praise from attendees followed the presentation.
The council did not take a formal vote on police staffing or contracts at the meeting; budget items remain subject to final adoption as part of the overall FY2026 ordinance.
