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Police chief outlines equipment buys, training and a merit stipend proposal
Summary
Police Chief Zachary Mathies reported 2025 activity totals, detailed recent purchases and training, and proposed a merit stipend program; the council approved releasing ten decommissioned Glock 22 pistols to a dealer for sale to officers and discussed radar sign quotes.
Police Chief Zachary Mathies reviewed the department’s 2025 activity totals and recent operational activity, reporting 776 traffic stops, 95 citations and 566 calls for service for the year to date. He told the council officers made 544 district and building checks and the department processed 168 reports in 2025.
Mathies said interviews are underway for a Community Development position and that Officer West will travel to St. Louis for Taser instructor training. The department purchased eight Glock 17 pistols and retains ten Glock 22s; the council voted to allow Mayor Debra Wilson to sign a release enabling a dealership to complete sales of the department’s ten Glock 22s to officers who requested them (motion: Jerome Mitzner; second: Keith Stoker; passed 4-0). Mathies said the gun-sale paperwork is being handled “through the proper process with a third-party dealer.”
Mathies also described a demonstration of an Operator XR training unit, saying “The price tag for a unit is $53,000,” and noted the unit simulates realistic scenarios that may be suitable for grant funding. He presented two radar-speed sign quotes — All Traffic Solutions at $6,399 and Radar Signs at $5,310 — and council members agreed the signs should be movable to allow for traffic counts during the street-improvement project.
On municipal court, Mathies said the Nov. 18 session was standing-room-only because October court was canceled; he estimated it took about three hours to process the docket and said additional officers were deployed to help process payments and manage entry and exit.
Mathies proposed a one-time merit stipend program for full-time employees tied to annual performance ratings (.5% for Satisfactory; 1% for Exceptional; 2% for Outstanding). Council members asked him to draft a formal policy adding eligibility conditions (minimum six months’ employment, exclusion of part-time employees, and annual review) before returning the proposal for formal action.
