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Goldendale police report rising call volume and mutual aid to Burdon fire response
Summary
Police Chief Mike Smith reported a summer increase in calls to service and said the department sent officers to assist the county with the Burdon fire; overtime costs are expected to be recovered via FEMA.
Police Chief Mike Smith told the Goldendale City Council the department held a well-attended back-to-school event and reported a rise in calls to service. "Last month's report, we had 389 calls to service. That was a 100 more than a month before," Smith said, describing a typical summer increase in activity.
During public comment and officer reports the council heard about the Burdon fire response. Chief Smith said the department sent four officers to assist the county with traffic control and that overtime costs "should be reversed through the FEMA for the overtime on that," meaning reimbursement is expected under federal disaster processes. He said the mutual aid response fits the city’s existing agreements with county emergency services.
Councilmembers and public commenters thanked first responders and confirmed the city’s role in assisting with evacuations and re-entry. No additional funding or formal policy changes were approved at the meeting; members said the city will continue to process overtime and mutual-aid paperwork for potential reimbursement.
