Council approves promotion to sergeant amid staffing shortages; police say recruiting underway

Fraser City Council approved the promotion of a public-safety officer (PSO) to the rank of sergeant to fill a patrol supervisory vacancy created by an internal promotion and recent departures, and the police department outlined current staffing levels and recruitment actions. Public-safety leadership said the department is currently short approximately three PSOs on the road across shifts but that the schedule (five PSOs per shift on eight‑hour shifts) and on-road sergeants provide partial operational coverage. The promoted sergeant will fill a supervisory hole created when Captain Gillis left and a previous PSO departed. Council members expressed concern about response times and officer fatigue. Council member Baranski noted reports and social-media complaints about long waits for nonemergency responses; the police chief said the department is actively recruiting, has reopened applications, and is engaging with police academies to recruit candidates but that hiring timelines vary. The council approved the promotion by voice vote and directed staff to continue recruitment and report back.