IPD gives staffing, community response and camera policy update; chief defends limited data sharing

Chief Thomas Kelly presented the Police Department’s structure and community engagement strategy to the Common Council on Feb. 11, describing workforce levels, new programs and data‑use safeguards.

"The department, including civilian, is 80 full time positions," Kelly said, spelling out a department that includes sworn and civilian roles and noted six sworn vacancies in a budgeted 50‑officer roster. He described divisions for patrol, investigations and professional standards, and emphasized the department’s partnerships with the Community Justice Center, REACH, Second Wind Cottages and county providers for care‑team and overdose‑response work.

Council members pressed the chief about department space and whether the city‑owned bowling alley under consideration could become a future police site. Kelly called the current building antiquated and not fully accessible, and said conversations about space will continue.

Flock license‑plate readers drew extended questioning. Kelly said the department has tightened sharing controls: "Like, we limit sharing to New York State," and described criteria implemented last year to require legal justification (incident numbers) for searches plus monthly audits of Flock queries. He gave examples where the tool aided homicide and stolen‑property investigations, but acknowledged public concern about privacy and oversight.

On the city’s pilot of unarmed responders (working title: community responder or "Roots"), staff and the chief said discussions about duties, enforcement authority and job titles are ongoing; the city manager emphasized job descriptions will be developed with HR and IPD before further community outreach.

Next steps: the department will continue monthly audits of surveillance searches, pursue grants for equipment and programs, and work with council on policy details for Roots and camera data safeguards.