The St. Martinville city council approved the 2019 and 2020 budget at last night’s council meeting. According to police chief Ricky Martin, the new budget for the police department includes a fleet lease of new patrol vehicles, a 12% pay increase for all department staff, and the addition of two new patrol officer positions.
The new starting pay at the police department is over $41,000 dollars. Chief Martin says they’ve also obtained new body cameras, radios, and are currently working on a taser program.
He says these improvements will make it easier to hire new experienced officers.