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Police chief outlines FY27 budget priorities, tech upgrades and drone program
Summary
Police Chief Coyne told the joint Select Board and Finance Committee that FY27 priorities include major IT and CAD/RMS upgrades, an ARPA-funded drone program used for mental-health and missing-person responses, continued dispatch improvements funded by state 911 grants, and persistent staffing and recruitment challenges.
Police Chief Coyne told the joint Select Board and Finance Committee on March 24 that the Police Departmentwill prioritize technology upgrades, expanded records and dispatch systems, and community-focused wellness work in its FY27 budget.
Chief Coyne said the department is implementing major IT improvements, including new computers and enhanced firewall and security systems, and is moving forward with a computer-aided dispatch and records management (CAD/RMS) implementation to modernize operations. "The drone program has been successfully deployed for mental health and missing persons cases," Coyne said, noting the unit is staffed by FAA-certified operators and funded through ARPA.
Coyne said dispatch-center improvements are continuing with state 911 grant funding, noting the department receives roughly $47,000 annually for dispatch plus additional grant reimbursements. He also flagged a persistent recruitment gap: a new parking enforcement position remains unfilled despite multiple postings, which limits enforcement capacity.
On policy and practice, Coyne emphasized de-escalation and officer wellness initiatives, saying de-escalation remains the primary response skill and that taser deployments were minimal over the past year. He listed projected FY27 goals as policy updates, progress toward accreditation, expanded wellness programs and renewed community engagement, while noting a staffing baseline of three officers per shift and that overtime is driven by dispatch shortages and shift coverage needs.
Coyne identified miscellaneous revenue sources supporting operations and programs, including approximately $20,000 from DEA reimbursements, Attorney General opioid reimbursements, and about $160,000 in federal asset-forfeiture funds.
The joint Select Board and Finance Committee discussed these items during the March 24 meeting; the meeting was later adjourned by the Select Board at 7:37 p.m.
