Fountain police report staffing shortfall, mental‑health responses and new technology plans

Chief Cristiani, Fountain's police chief, told the City Council on June 17 that the department has "63 officers, with 4 positions open" and outlined plans to change shift coverage and add personnel over the next two years.

The update centered on staffing, traffic and crime statistics, the department’s behavioral‑health response called Beacon, and new technology and equipment. "Beacon is still very, very valuable and will always be valuable," Cristiani said, describing the co‑response model in which a clinician rides with a trained officer.

The nut graf: staffing shortfalls, growing recovery of stolen vehicles with contraband, and Beacon’s role in diverting people from jail were presented as interconnected issues the department expects to address through recruitment, overtime and phased program investments.

Cristiani said staffing is a moving target: the department aims to recruit to a target of 67 officers, add a patrol lieutenant assigned to nights, and eventually create a "relief squad" to stagger coverage. "I really need a patrol lieutenant to work the night shift," he said, noting current lieutenants rotate across shifts.

On statistics, Cristiani provided year‑to‑date figures and comparisons with 2024. He said traffic enforcement remained high: in 2024 the department wrote nearly 5,000 tickets; year‑to‑date 2025 the department had written almost 2,400 tickets and, as of the briefing, had no traffic fatalities for the year. He also said year‑to‑date reportable traffic accidents numbered 619 from 1,259 calls, with 45 alcohol‑related crashes and 12 alcohol‑related injury crashes.

Beacon behavioral‑health responses were a major focus. Cristiani said Beacon teams responded to mental‑health calls in 2024 and 2025, and that the presence of a clinician frequently allowed officers to be released back to patrol. He summarized 2024 Beacon outcomes as: 289 patients seen, 163 treated in place with referrals and 77 transported for further evaluation. For 2025 year‑to‑date, he said 121 patients were seen, 56 treated with safety plans, and 38 transported; "99 out of 218 officers returned to service," he said, noting roughly half of responding officers were cleared to resume patrol after Beacon arrived. Council member Rick highlighted that "94% of the people, who Beacon contacted did not go to jail," a point Cristiani used to argue Beacon reduces unnecessary arrests.

Cristiani described new equipment and interagency assets: the department is deploying Flock license‑plate readers and he emphasized, "They are license plate readers only." He said Fountain owns the data and controls sharing with other law‑enforcement agencies. He also said the department is replacing duty pistols with red‑dot optics by the end of 2025 and that regional arrangements led to K‑9 Mako being transferred to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office after a regional decision.

During public questions, residents asked about Beacon repeat calls, intimate‑partner assault tracking and hiring pathways. Cristiani said repeat contacts occur but Beacon clinicians build relationships that can reduce recurring responses, that domestic‑violence (intimate‑partner) statistics are tracked in the department’s incident system, and that applicants must be 21 to be hired as officers (the department can enroll recruits in an academy so they graduate at 21).

The chief closed by asking council and the public to request particular statistics for future updates. "If there is something here that is of no interest to you, please let me know," he said.

Ending: Council did not take a formal action on staffing or Beacon at the meeting; the briefing served as an informational update and an opportunity for council and residents to request further data in follow‑up reports.