SAN ANGELO, Texas — On the morning of August 13, the City of Austin, Texas decided to decrease its police department's budget by roughly 34%. That same morning, the City of San Angelo met to discuss its budget, and the San Angelo Police Department requested an increase of more than $1 million over the next four years.
"Many cities across the country are reducing the budget - which I'm not sure is a very smart decision - but many cities are not increasing, and here we are looking at, over a four-year window, a million and one dollars in increase," said Mayor Brenda Gunter.
SAPD is applying for a grant of nearly $858,000 to hire five police officers: three for the gang unit and two for the narcotic unit. According to Police Chief Frank Carter, based on the population size of San Angelo, the police department should have at least 190 officers. As of August 13, the department has 167.
"If you remember correctly, in 2016, my goal was to increase the officers, five per year," said Chief Carter.
In addition, the department is also requesting 45 more body cameras.
"We're fixing to start another academy and also give us a little wiggle room for some spares, just in case," Cheif Carter said.
The department made a deal with a vender that will allow the cameras to be paid for over a five year period. Chief Carter says the department will pay for the first year at a reduced price of $24,500. If approved, the city will pay $70,067 every year for the remaining four years.