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The Troy Police Department soon will have the ability to search reports and database information from departments throughout the state, thanks to a new investigative tool.

The Troy City Council on Tuesday gave the department approval to partner with Data Sharing Services for the Gulf States Technology Initiative. Through the initiative, the TPD will have access for two years to an in-house server connected to a broader, statewide network.

The network will store all the local report information, providing intrastate search access to all participating departments.

“This is a really strong investigative tool,” Barr said, explaining that officers can search based on one fact – such as name, vehicle description or phone number  – and see all reports attached to that across the state.

Normally, participation in this network would cost $5,000 a year, Barr said. “But the Montgomery STAR Center got a Department of Justice grant and is providing this free of charge for two years.”

The council also addressed several housekeeping items, not handled during the organizational session, including:

• Appointment of standing committees. Chairs of the committees include Public Works, District 5 Wanda Moultry; Public Safety, District 3 Marcus Paramore; Utilities, District 2 Greg Meeks; and. Schools, Library and Recreation, District 4 Stephanie Baker.

• Approved the depositories a d payment of recurring expenses.

• Re-appointed Mayor Jason Reeves to be the city’s representative on the Southeast Alabama Gas District Board.

• Approved the rules and procedures of the City Council, including a five-minute limit on members of the public who wish to address the council during meetings.

In other business, the council considered two measures regarding benefits for city employees.

Council members carried over discussions about providing incentives for expedited retirement for eligible employees due to the mayor’s absence.

The council did approve an additional payroll for city employees, set at 10 percent of monthly salary for full-time employees and $100 for the nearly 80 part-time employees. The part-time allocation was increased for this year due to hardships caused by COVID-19.