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Coats police request raises, vehicle and body-camera funding; board approves immediate purchase of cameras
Summary
Police Chief Ken Storicks asked the board for a patrol vehicle (~$52,200), officer body cameras (~$8,200), and $15,000 salary increases per officer. The board asked for quotes and agreed to fund body cameras from current-year money but declined to buy a vehicle in the coming fiscal year.
Police Chief Ken Storicks presented the department's budget requests at the March 20 work session, asking for one patrol vehicle (approximately $52,200), body cameras for officers (estimated $8,200), and $15,000 raises for each police employee. Chief Storicks also described current staffing: eight approved positions with six filled and two vacancies, and a fleet of 10 vehicles.
Board members pressed on fleet-usage metrics and replacement thresholds. After discussion, the board reached consensus not to purchase a police vehicle during the upcoming fiscal year, citing current vacancies and vehicle-hours/mileage considerations. Members did agree that body cameras were needed promptly; they directed Chief Storicks to obtain quotes and pursue purchase from current-year funds so procurement can proceed without waiting for a new fiscal-year appropriation.
