CHENEY – The 2023 budget proposal included requests for two additional police officers and a flying drone program for the city’s use. The budget proposal was given by police chief Rick Beghtol at city council meeting, Nov. 22.
“We are currently authorized to have 16 commissioned employees, and we only have 14. So once we’re back up to 16, the new budget is asking for two more commissioned officers, which would bring us to 18.” Beghtol said. The budget lists a $300,000 expense for those two new officers.
“That number includes training, equipment, and benefits for those two officers.” That funding, Beghtol said, is spread out over the course of at least 12 months. “Just their every-day equipment would cost something like $20,000.” Beghtol said.
When asked how long it would take to have two new officers trained and on the streets, Beghtol said “At the earliest, if we are authorized to hire two new employees, not lateral transfers, those new officers would be on their own on the streets by June 2024.”
City administrator Mark Schuller commented on the drone program. “Drones are a great tool for our officers. They do a number of things. One thing that makes them valuable is that they can assess the status of an area, allowing officers to get back to the work at hand more quickly.”
“The price listed on the budget ($20,000) includes getting the officers trained in the operation of the drone as well as the actual hardware.” Schuller said.
When asked his view on the drone program, Beghtol said “I am a fan of that program. They could be used for collision investigation, for example. Also, if we had aerial support for missing persons investigations, we would be much better off.”
“There was a missing child case we worked a few years back, and having taerial support in the search would have been an asset.”
Additionally, Beghtol said. “Locating a fugitive on the run would be made easier as well; there are a lot of applications and it may pay for itself just in saving us man hours using officers on the ground.”
“Drive carefully!” Beghtol said regarding winter driving. “Just slow down and be careful.”
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
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