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Brentwood public-safety leaders outline hiring, promotions and fire training plans
Summary
Brentwood public-safety officials told the Public Safety Committee they are pursuing conditional hires and internal promotions, postpone some academy starts to manage overtime and are continuing work on a new fire training facility after a recent groundbreaking; fire staff also described recent flood rescues.
City public-safety leaders on July 23 described staffing moves intended to stabilize police and fire rosters while the city completes a new fire training facility.
Mitchell (Fire Department official): “We did make a conditional offer to an individual, and he completed all of his preemployment screening, as of Friday.”
The fire department said it made a conditional hire who must still attend the fire academy; staff plan to delay the new hire’s academy start until January to avoid exceeding this year's overtime budget. The department also has a promotional process underway for a lieutenant vacancy with four applicants and expects to complete promotion testing before the next public-safety meeting in August.
Police Chief Spies said the police department currently has one job opening and a conditional offer to one candidate; the chief noted recruiting is more difficult because surrounding agencies offer higher salaries and hires often occur before academy classes start.
Why it matters: staffing levels influence response times and overtime costs for emergency services. The committee heard that staggered academy starts and internal promotions are being used to reduce near-term overtime pressure.
Fire officials also reported operational activity. The department described a no-notice rain event during which crews rescued three people trapped in floodwaters at a sports complex and removed a driver who entered barricaded floodwaters on Russell Avenue; personnel used swift-water protective gear and did not deploy boats. The city said one vehicle needed towing after the event.
The committee also noted broad community support for the fire training facility: Mitchell thanked residents and officials who attended the recent groundbreaking and said the department expects a ribbon-cutting next summer.
Mitchell reported members of the department have deployed to assist other states; one firefighter returned today from a deployment with FEMA teams in Texas and two members are on Missouri Task Force 1.
Ending: Committee members did not take formal action; staff will bring promotional selection results and hiring updates to the board after city-administrator approval.
