Grand Island Police proposing new budget requests for more officers and renovations

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KLKN) — The Grand Island Police Department (GIPD) is presenting new budget requests at the city council meeting today. They are asking for more personnel and certain renovation projects.

Police Chief Kevin Denney said they are requesting three new full-time employees. They are currently authorized for 92 employees with three additional overhaul spots. GIPD is currently at 94, nearly reaching the limit.

The three new officers would include a backfill of a lieutenant position and two traffic officers.

The lieutenant position would oversee training, internal investigations and getting accredited through a third party.

The two traffic officers will fulfill what Denney says are his biggest complaints from the community. They will conduct traffic stops, specifically in school zones and high accident areas. Denney said they will also reach out to local schools, informing and educating new drivers.

According to Denney, the number of traffic stops has increased from 10,000 in the first six months of 2025 to 15,500 in the first six months of 2026. With that, accident rates have decreased 6%, which is around 50 accidents.

Denney said the new officers will help with the departments main focuses, like being visible throughout the community.

“I always urge the officers to go into local businesses or organizations around town,” Denney said. “We don’t want them only behind the wheel.”

The other focuses include stopping cars before accidents, catching prolific offenders and having positive community engagement. Denney said he wants the officers to have community engagement that has a more intentional basis.

The calls for service have increased 9% since last year.

“I believe this is a positive increase,” Denney said. “More calls means the residents have trust in the officers to do the right thing.”

For GIPD, the new budget proposals are to continue to prevent increases in crime and accidents, along with renovations that will benefit the community.

Denney said some of those renovations include redoing the gates at the law enforcement center and renovating the auto pound.

The budget requests will be voted on at a later date. The city council will review city requests and prioritize them, according to Denney.