Police chief warns of failing rifles and rising overtime costs, urges funding changes

Police Chief Matthew Smith told the St. Helens Budget Committee on May 14 that a recent review found many department patrol carbines were old, suffering component failures and lacked suppressors, creating both safety and long‑term liability concerns.

"We discovered that many of our AR‑15 rifles that are deployed to our cars in some cases are over 20 years old. They have failing components," Smith said, and asked the committee to consider a $65,000 tactical line to replace rifles, optics, slings, magazines and suppressors. Smith said his preference is an equipment‑replacement schedule to avoid future large upfront costs.

Smith also cited rising overtime and a new Columbia County 911 user‑fee estimate that could hit St. Helens’ budget. "Those fees are projected approximately $550,000," he said, noting the county briefed agencies on a per‑call allocation method. Smith said that stabilizing recruiting and training would reduce overtime over time but warned that unforecastable critical incidents and mutual‑aid obligations mean some overtime risk remains.

Committee members pressed for details about staffing, overtime drivers and scheduling alternatives. The chief described efforts to stagger hiring and rotate personnel to limit overtime exposure and outlined plans to return to 24/7 patrol coverage as recruits complete training. Lieutenant Treat, the department firearms instructor, and other officers provided technical detail on component failures and replacement timelines during questioning.

Finance staff and several committee members discussed longer‑term options, including placing police services into a separate special revenue fund and presenting a voter measure to fund policing. Committee members asked staff to produce specific budget scenarios that show what would be required to maintain patrol staffing under different revenue assumptions.

The committee did not make a final funding decision for the police on May 14; members asked for written follow‑ups and revised budget options ahead of the next meeting.