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South Pasadena leaders describe staffing shortfalls; departments eye recruitment, explorers and shared staffing
Summary
Police and fire officials updated the commission on staffing vacancies, recruitment challenges and outreach plans. Police reported seven sworn vacancies; fire described new academy graduates but persistent gaps. Officials discussed explorer and citizens‑patrol programs and intercity staffing agreements.
Chief Brian Solinski and interim Fire Division Chief Chris Scenzi briefed the Public Safety Commission on staffing and recruitment across police and fire services.
Chief Solinski said the police department is making progress after a period of low staffing but still has several vacancies among sworn and non‑sworn positions. “As of right now, we have 2 dispatchers that were vacant, 4 police cadets, 1 police corporal, 1 police lieutenant, 4 police officers… for a police department with 36 sworn having 7 vacancies,” Solinski said, describing the current gap.
Scenzi, serving as interim fire chief, said the department has benefited from recent academy graduates but continues to run below full staffing. He outlined recruitment outreach to high schools, military personnel and colleges and highlighted recent media events that drew interest. Scenzi also described a shared‑staffing command arrangement with San Marino that places him between two cities’ operations.
Commissioners and staff discussed programs to recruit local candidates, including reviving a police explorer program for high‑school students and a citizens‑on‑patrol initiative for retirees and volunteers. Commissioners suggested exploring incentives such as affordable housing prioritization for public‑safety employees and pursuing budgets that would allow competitive pay; council liaison Braun said a quarterly printed newsletter and budget priorities are under discussion but would require allocation in the city budget process.
Officials noted mutual‑aid and reciprocal staffing arrangements with nearby agencies such as San Marino and Pasadena to mitigate gaps and stressed the strain of overtime on current personnel. Department leaders said they will continue recruitment campaigns and consider partnerships with schools, MBA capstone projects for marketing help, and other outreach to fill vacancies.
Ending: No hiring decisions or new funding were approved in the meeting. Staff said recruitment and program planning will continue and that the commission will receive an updated annual report on crime and staffing at a future meeting.
