RCPD budget approved

The Riley County Police Department has a new budget, with the Riley County Law Board Monday approving the 2018 budget as published. As reported earlier by KMAN, the budget calls for  1.824 percent increase and $20,682,000.70. RCPD Director Brad Schoen was happy with the process involved in this year’s budget planning saying he was fond of the process, describing it as an ala carte method, which he said makes it much simpler for everyone.

The budget includes a .8 percent cost of living increase, step increase, education and shift differential pay, and the contract for a mental health advocate.

Law Board Chair Craig Beardsley also had praise for the process this year, commending the board, RCPD, city, and county for all the work that went into the budget…

Riley County Law Board members Monday said yes to a Memorandum of Understanding involving Pawnee Mental Health and the Riley County Police Department regarding the Riley County Mental Health Co-Responder Project Cooperative. Law Board member Usha Reddi was pleased with certain provisions in the agreement, especially mentioning the training and communication pieces. Reddi added while it’s a cultural shift for RCPD, it should help to make this a successful program. RCPD Director Brad Schoen agreed the provisions help, especially at times when things might not go well…

And the Law Board also heard that online reporting of certain crimes is no longer cost-effective and had been discontinued.  Reddi expressed some concern about the change.. with more than 100 reports still coming in that way yearly–but Schoen explained on-line reporting had been at best a break-even proposition, so they might as well send an officer out to take reports, while also making their software lives less complicated.