Mayor Joe St. John described the renovation and construction of Sunbury’s municipal building and the city’s first standalone police station as the “most signature accomplishment in Sunbury’s history” during his address.

He said the new facility provides covered parking, a secure sally port, a large training space, separate locker rooms, interview rooms and expanded workspaces. The mayor credited city staff leadership for coordinating the financing and moves and said the investment explains an earlier dip in the city’s reserve balance.

Public-safety equipment and staffing: St. John said the city upgraded to a full new TASER fleet and restructured how the patrol fleet is procured, moving to five leased Dodge Durangos under warranty to reduce maintenance costs and to standardize vehicles. He said the city saved $40,000 on a TASER upgrade and that leased vehicles will be available to purchase for $1 after the five-year lease term.

School resource officers and detectives: The mayor said the school resource officer program expanded to include Officer Maya Belcher alongside Officer Justin Whiteside. He noted SRO duties include classroom engagement and cybersecurity training in addition to security.

Detective work and drone program: St. John highlighted work by Detective Allison Castrilla, who he said led 15 drug-trafficking cases, including five based in Sunbury, and credited two major convictions that he said resulted in sentences of nine years and 19 years. He also described ongoing work by Detective Chris Smith on a 2023 swatting investigation in which the department executed a warrant last month and assisted in an arrest in California; the mayor characterized the investigation as active and continuing and cited partnerships with the ATF, FBI and the governor’s office.

The mayor gave specific examples of Sunbury’s drone unit in life-safety roles: he said the drone program has four FAA-certified pilots and two high-end drones and that the team was deployed 36 times last year. He recounted two rescues the drones aided: a water rescue at Hoover Reservoir in which a drone located a survivor and a separate search where thermal imaging found an elderly woman with dementia outside in freezing temperatures; the latter, he said, was captured in bodycam footage and resulted in a safe reunion with family.

St. John said the department now has 11 officers for a city population he described as roughly 8,000 and credited departmental leadership — Chief Howard and Deputy Chief Wade — for operational improvements. He did not provide a staffing plan or a formal request for additional officers during the address.