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Police chief defends staffing, flags rising vehicle and technology costs
Summary
Chief Mark Smith outlined patrol workloads, vehicle wear and rising fleet maintenance costs, and described new technology investments (10‑year body‑cam lease with auto upload and 800 MHz radios). He proposed options including modest personnel funding holds to close budget gaps without layoffs.
Police Chief Mark Smith presented the department’s FY27 priorities and budget options on June 29. Smith highlighted accreditation milestones — including a telecommunications accreditation and a third Excelsior rating — and detailed operational demands: the department answered 90,689 calls for service last year and is on track for higher volumes in 2026. He said the department is funded for roughly 102 sworn officers but currently operates with about 98.
Smith outlined rising personnel‑related costs (insurance and retirement) that moved onto departmental cost centers this year, pushing personnel to ~78% of the department’s cost base. He showed a detailed fleet inventory, noting that 62% of vehicles will be over five years old by the end of the year and that monthly maintenance bills have climbed from roughly $18,000–$20,000 to $50,000–$60,000.
On technology, Smith described a 10‑year Motorola body‑worn camera and evidence system (with automatic cellular upload to avoid officer overtime for manual downloads) and an 800‑MHz radio system to ensure statewide interoperability during disasters. Smith offered budget‑reduction scenarios: a $1.5 million cut would eliminate several civilian and sworn positions; a 4.3% reduction ($835,000) could be achieved largely through civilian positions and by budgeting personnel at 95–96% of projected cost to account for anticipated vacancies. Commissioners raised concerns about percentage‑based personnel budgeting and potential effects on employees; some suggested instead reaching the same savings by limiting fills of specific positions.
