Chandler City Council has approved $2.25 million in state funding to bolster Chandler Police Department programs and staffing.

Chandler police will use about $1 million to hire temporary part-time investigators. 

“Well we certainly have a staffing concern, as all agencies throughout the nation. And this will help alleviate some of those areas that we feel that it’s extremely important that we don’t have a backlog in investigations when it comes to crimes against children, human trafficking, sex crimes, homicides," said Chandler Sgt. Emma Huenneke.

A portion will also go toward a pepper-ball pilot program for patrol officers.

"It allows us to use a less lethal compliance tool that can be deployed at a distance greater than 20 feet, and it doesn’t cause significant bodily injury," Huenneke said.

The rest of the funds will go towards additional technological capabilities.