Cruisers, dispatch services, and AI: Flagstaff City Council tackles trio of police-related topics

Flagstaff City Council voted Tuesday, Oct. 20, to approve nine replacement police vehicles and to renew intergovernmental agreements for dispatch services between the city-county dispatch center and surrounding fire districts. The council also considered two citizen petitions about the use of artificial intelligence in policing but declined to move either forward, despite some members expressing sympathy. Facilities and fleet services director Jennifer Brown said eight vehicles exceed replacement criteria (seven years or 120,000-plus miles) and one was totaled. The replacements—about $449,000—are gasoline-electric hybrids (Ford Hybrid Police Interceptor Utility). No pursuit-rated plug-in hybrids are available, and charging constraints and shift turnover limit full electrification.