Dearborn Heights police chief seeks larger force, cites traffic enforcement, task forces and overtime savings

During a budget hearing on the police department, Dearborn Heights officials and the police chief discussed a request to increase sworn staffing from 45 officers in the recommended budget to 58 officers, saying the additional personnel would restore traffic enforcement, create a special-ops unit and reduce overtime costs.

The chief told the City Council the department is currently staffed at roughly 38 sworn officers and that hiring would bring the force closer to the requested 58. "With the additional 13 officers, the goal is . . . to bring back traffic enforcement," the chief said, adding the proposal would include officers assigned to traffic, community policing and federal task forces.

Council members and staff pressed for details about how added positions would be deployed and how the city would pay for them. Council discussion centered on which positions to prioritize within the requested increase and how new hires would affect benefits, overtime and fund balance.

Why it matters

Council members said staffing levels influence response times, community visibility and the city's overtime bill. The chief and several councilmembers said some new positions could generate or offset costs over time through increased traffic enforcement, participation in federal task forces and reduced overtime spending.

What the chief proposed

The chief described a 13-officer increase beyond the recommended budget (from 45 to 58) and explained how those…