diff --git a/OpenOversight/app/models/config.py b/OpenOversight/app/models/config.py
index a5594a931..f3a480c67 100644
--- a/OpenOversight/app/models/config.py
+++ b/OpenOversight/app/models/config.py
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.NUM_OFFICERS = 120
         self.RATELIMIT_ENABLED = False
         self.SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI = "sqlite:///:memory:"
+        # Disable sqlite cached statements
+        # https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/118172
+        self.SQLALCHEMY_ENGINE_OPTIONS = {
+            "connect_args": {"cached_statements": 0},
+        }
 
 
 class ProductionConfig(BaseConfig):
diff --git a/OpenOversight/app/templates/submit_image.html b/OpenOversight/app/templates/submit_image.html
index 56bc8c9a2..6ec32f2da 100644
--- a/OpenOversight/app/templates/submit_image.html
+++ b/OpenOversight/app/templates/submit_image.html
@@ -76,19 +76,15 @@ <h3>High Security Submissions</h3>
     <script src="{{ url_for('static', filename='js/dropzone.js') }}"></script>
     <script src="{{ url_for('static', filename='js/init-dropzone.js') }}"></script>
     <script>
-        // Select user's preferred department by default
-        document.getElementById("department").selectedIndex = {{ preferred_dept_id }} - 1;
-        // Save the preferred department in dept_id
-        let dept_id = document.getElementById("department").selectedIndex + 1;
         const csrf_token = "{{ csrf_token() }}";
 
-        // Store changes in drop down list in dept_id variable
-        $(function() {
-            const select_dept = $('#dept-select');
-            select_dept.on('change', function() {
-                // fires when department selection changes
-                dept_id = document.getElementById("department").value;
-            });
+        // Select user's preferred department by default
+        let dept_id = {{ preferred_dept_id }};
+        $("#department").val(dept_id);
+
+        // Store drop down list changes in dept_id variable
+        $("#dept-select").on('change', function() {
+            dept_id = $("#department").val();
         });
 
         const getURL = (file) => "/upload/department/" + dept_id;