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Council urges multi‑year plan to boost Lansing police and fire staffing
Summary
The council passed a resolution urging the administration to implement a multi‑year staffing plan to add 3–6 full‑time positions annually to Police and Fire Departments until safe levels are reached, citing recent high call volume and a deadly street race.
The Lansing City Council on Monday approved a resolution urging the city administration to implement a multi‑year staffing plan that would add three to six full‑time positions annually in both the Lansing Police Department and Lansing Fire Department until staffing reaches safe, sustainable levels.
Council Member Sam Garza moved the resolution, saying it responds to critical staffing shortages and high demand for emergency services. The meeting record cites an example day when the Fire Department responded to more than 101 calls and all five ambulances were in use for a substantial portion of the day.
The resolution acknowledges that future state mechanisms such as the Public Safety Trust Fund may help police staffing, but says fire staffing needs remain unaddressed. The resolution calls for immediate action and a multiyear plan to restore and maintain safe staffing levels.
Council Member Terrance Jackson raised practical hiring challenges, noting long‑standing vacancies and competition for recruits statewide; Jackson urged attention to HR capacity and compensation practices as part of any staffing strategy. Council Member Spadafore said budgeted funds could be used to help implement the plan.
The council approved the resolution on voice vote. The action is a directive to the administration rather than a binding appropriation; specific funding, hiring timelines and collective bargaining implications remain to be determined.
