Beyond the Walls and Halls of the Lisbon Police Department Purchase of "Toys For The Boys" Explained In Detail

TOYS FOR THE BOYS

Lisbon Chief of Police David T. Brooks

In September 2013, Chief Brooks received $71,750.78 in Federal Forfeiture Funds.  These funds had strings attached and could ONLY be used by the Lisbon Police Department.  So on February 14, 2014, I submitted a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) for a copy of all the Purchase Orders utilizing these Federal forfeiture funds.  On March 11, 2014, I received copies of fifteen (15) Purchase Orders totaling $27,468.74 dollars (See Attachment).

As you can see, there are a lot of miscellaneous items to include three (3) 16M4A4 Telestk MPC assault rifles.  I have several issues with this particular purchase.   

The first one is why does the Lisbon Police Department need assault weapons?  

 Could it be because of the numerous riots in Lisbon or maybe it is all the gun battles held in our streets?  

The citizens of Lisbon are the only ones here and our Officers are not traveling to Afghanistan to fight in a war; so who are they planning to use these weapons on?  

 I cannot remember one time a Lisbon Police Officer has discharged his weapon in the performance of his duties except possibly on the firing range.  Also, how far do you think a round will travel in the town of Lisbon?  Are you kidding me; this is a pure waste of funds.

Chief Brooks turned in a 2014-2015 Capital Improvement Plan with numerous items needed by the Lisbon Police Department and yet he did not purchase any of them with these Federal forfeiture funds.  All of the items qualify for purchase under the guidance outlined by Chief Brooks.  The following are items Chief Brooks could have purchased:

            Animal Control Truck                                         $24,000.00

            Mobile Radios (11)                                                33,000.00

            Voter Radio System                                                28,000.00

            Document Imaging Unit                                        14,000.00

                                                            TOTAL:                99,000.00

As you can see, Chief Brooks could have purchased three (3) of these items if they were so important to the Lisbon Police Department.  Now, Chief Brooks is going to ask the taxpayers' to purchase these items in the Municipal Budget (See 2015 Capital Improvement Plan). 

Is this really being fair to the taxpayers?

 Click to enlarge or print each document

Take a look at the Town Tax Allocation and you will see that the Police Department costs this town over $1,260,705.00 tax dollars (See Attached).   

The Police Department is the most expensive department we have.   

This is ridiculous!!!!  It is time our Councilors and the Interim Town Manager enlighten Chief Brooks on proper budgeting protocols.

It is imperative that Chief Brooks put the needs of the taxpayers' before he purchases anymore “Toys for the Boys”. 

Larry Fillmore