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Police warn cuts will reduce patrol visibility; K‑9 sought via grant
Summary
Police leadership told the council that balanced budget cuts would reduce patrol visibility and could prompt officer departures; a narcotics K‑9 remains a priority if grant funding can cover startup costs.
Police representative Bob (speaker S10) told the council the department faces an aging fleet and constrained operations under the more conservative budget scenarios. "Out of 20 vehicles in the police department fleet, I have 7 that are over a 100,000 miles," he said, and warned that service cuts will mean officers will be less visible on patrol and that some officers might leave.
Bob described a plan to pursue a DCI grant to fund a narcotics K‑9 and associated setup costs, noting the one‑time grant could cover vehicle modifications and equipment while ongoing costs would be minimal ("maybe 1,700 a year" for food and veterinary care). Council asked staff to track grant timing and to consider midyear adjustments if revenues allow restoration of equipment or patrol capacity.
