Police Chief Kevin Suedmeyer took a vacation day from his other job Tuesday night so he could attend the Auxvasse Board of Aldermen meeting.
Suedmeyer wanted to make sure he was there in person to tell the board members "thank you" for their approval to get a new Dodge Charger to add to the department's fleet - for which the board approved a purchase lease agreement with Santander Bank during Tuesday night's meeting.
"Thank you for the support," Suedmeyer said, noting that when he recently attended patrol rifle school in Kansas City, all anyone there wanted to talk about was the Charger."When I started here, we had radios bolted to a two-by-four in the car. Now look at what we've got (gesturing out toward the front of the building, where two department vehicles - including the new Charger - are parked).
"Nobody can touch us on the equipment we have. Because of that, morale goes through the roof."
Suedmeyer added that while he has always been picky about new hires, recently he has found himself turning away applicants he would hire "in a heartbeat."
"We've got more applicants than I can hire," he said. "That kind of stuff attracts people."
While talking about equipment, Alderman Mike Bickel asked for an update on the department's move to outfit every officer with a body camera.
Suedmeyer said that every officer has one, but only two have the cameras manufactured by Taser that have a delay - starting its recording 30 seconds prior to when the officer hits record. He has applied for a grant to upgrade the remaining cameras.
Also during Tuesday night's meeting, the board approved a joint powers contract with the Callaway County Commission for the Auxvasse Fire Department's share of the county fire departments' new county-wide radio communication system.