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Peoria police say neighborhood services unit understaffed; recruitment pipeline may fill vacancies by August
Summary
Assistant Chief Dixon and police staff told the council the Neighborhood Services Unit is short several officers but that a training pipeline should allow the department to refill a neighborhood house by August and continue hiring through the fall.
The Peoria Police Department reported to the City Council on June 10 that its Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) is understaffed but that an active recruitment and training pipeline should allow the department to backfill vacant neighborhood positions in the coming months.
Assistant Chief Dixon briefed the council on NSU staffing: the unit has a sergeant, a nuisance-abatement officer (temporarily filled), three resident officers and one community engagement officer, and one neighborhood house was vacant pending minor repairs. He said the department’s on-paper headcount is 227, but 34 officers are in training or at the police academy and 17 are out for various reasons; the effective staffing of officers available for assignments is therefore reduced.
“It's going to take a little bit before we can backfill some of these positions, but I'm anticipating at the latest in August, backfilling the neighborhood house down in Madison,” Assistant Chief Dixon said. He added the department’s next candidate classes will finish in August and then in the autumn months, allowing more hires to be placed on the street.
Council members asked about plans to expand neighborhood houses and community policing presence; Dixon said leadership is prioritizing a Madison house reopening and would like to place an additional house in the East Bluff if space and staffing permit. Council members and staff praised the NSU’s outreach and urged continued emphasis on recruitment and training to restore neighborhood coverage.
No formal council action was required; the update was provided during new business and council members thanked police staff for the briefing.
