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Police report: staffing stable, traffic‑safety emphasis and new cadet pipeline
Summary
Police department said it remains fully staffed, reported a sharp rise in traffic stops and citations in January, described the Traffic Safety Officer role and detailed rotational detective and cadet programs intended to strengthen recruiting and capabilities.
A police department representative told the committee the department remains fully staffed, has one recruit in field training and is rolling out programs designed to improve traffic safety and recruit future officers.
Why it matters: The department reported a substantial month‑over‑month increase in traffic stops and said it is prioritizing education and presence through a Traffic Safety Officer (TSO) assignment rather than relying solely on citation growth. The department also described investigator rotations and a cadet pipeline intended to expand recruitment and training opportunities.
Key points
- Staffing and fleet: The department said one new Dodge vehicle is scheduled to begin build next week and one recruit is completing field training.
- Detective rotations: Sergeant Kyle Buckles was assigned as detective sergeant in a four‑year rotation; Josh Kalief returned to patrol; and officer Cody Kairas will serve as a rotational detective for six months. The rotational program is intended to give patrol officers investigation experience before longer detective commitments.
- Traffic Safety Officer and statistics: The department reported 324 traffic stops in January 2025 compared with 226 in December 2024 and 148 in January 2024. Citations rose to 75 in January 2025 (24 in the prior month). Warnings were 256 in January compared with 202 in December 2024 and 126 in January 2024. The representative said education is the preferred approach to achieve voluntary compliance: "Education is a much better [approach] than a heavy‑handed enforcement when it comes to traffic," the police representative said.
- Discretion and response priorities: The representative explained officers have discretion to divert from non‑emergent calls for traffic enforcement in cases of serious or dangerous violations but generally prioritize higher‑priority calls.
- Cadet program: Staff said the department has made progress on a cadet program and expects the assignment to be a gateway for youth interested in law enforcement; an initial cadet candidate completed background checks and will be fitted for uniforms.
What the committee heard
Council members asked whether an active TSO means other officers stop focusing on traffic; staff said all patrol officers can make traffic stops but the TSO provides dedicated time for traffic safety and collision investigations. Committee members welcomed the cadet program and rotational detective assignments as tools for workforce development.
What’s next
Staff will continue monthly reporting on traffic safety metrics and move the cadet program forward pending completion of required policies, background checks and training.
