City Council proposes expansion of police and fire staffing in six year budget plan

The City of Temple held a Special Called City Council Meeting on August 29, 2025, focusing on the budget for health and safety, particularly in the police and fire departments. The meeting outlined significant proposals aimed at enhancing public safety resources in response to the city's growth.

The discussion began with an emphasis on police patrol, highlighting the need to expand from eight to ten patrol districts due to increased community density, especially on the West side. The proposal includes transitioning from 12-hour shifts to 10-hour shifts, which aims to improve officer availability and response times. The budget also recommends hiring additional patrol officers and three lieutenants to ensure leadership presence during all shifts.

Further, the meeting addressed the need for enhanced training resources at the new public safety training center. Currently, there are no dedicated officers to manage training programs, which is a critical gap that the budget aims to fill in fiscal year 2026. The plan also includes expanding the criminal investigations team and bolstering the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which fosters connections between the police department and the community.

In addition to police resources, the fire department's needs were also discussed. The proposal includes establishing a two-response district program to manage incidents more effectively, necessitating the addition of six positions, including a new battalion chief. The city plans to add two new squad units and three new fire stations to accommodate the growing population and ensure timely emergency response.

The fire department's staffing strategy aims to maintain a minimum of 30 firefighters on duty at all times, with plans to increase this number to 45 as new positions are added. This includes hiring coverage firefighters to ensure adequate staffing during absences due to vacations or training.

Overall, the meeting outlined a comprehensive plan for enhancing public safety in Temple, with a total of 70 new positions proposed for the fire department over the next six years, including 68 sworn and two civilian roles. The budget also includes capital improvements for new fire stations and upgrades to existing facilities, ensuring that both police and fire departments are well-equipped to meet the demands of a growing community.