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Police, fire chiefs report equipment upgrades and hiring progress as council focuses public-safety priorities
Summary
Police and fire chiefs told the Lompoc council they have recent equipment upgrades and are making hiring progress; council emphasized community engagement, staffing levels tied to call volume, oversight and that homelessness be addressed as a regional, multi-agency problem.
Police and fire leaders described equipment upgrades and hiring activity Feb. 11 as the City Council discussed public-safety goals for the 2025–27 budget.
An unnamed police chief told the council the department recently deployed body cameras, new in-car video systems and handsets, and has begun a citywide radio upgrade scheduled for completion in August. The department secured a federal grant of $728,000 to support a records-management update, and the chief reported there were four current sworn vacancies and a written test recently attended by 23 candidates.
Fire leadership said the department had prioritized life‑safety equipment and infrastructure upgrades, including breathing apparatus (SCBA) replacements and improvements to station facilities. Fire officials said they are reviewing program needs to match changing call types, particularly medical calls, which make up the bulk of responses and have increased by roughly 100–150 calls per year over the last three years.
Council members pressed chiefs for specificity about staffing and service levels. Several members said they want staffing decisions tied to measurable indicators — for example call volume or response-time goals — and asked how the city will sustain added personnel over a multiyear planning horizon. Council members also urged more visible community policing and encouraged officers to attend neighborhood events beyond formal department-organized activities.
On homelessness, councilors and chiefs said the issue crosses public safety, health and social services and is not solely a police responsibility; the police department described a dedicated outreach team that pairs the department’s homeless liaison with a compliance officer and said they refer people to social services when possible.
No formal staffing or budget allocations were adopted at the workshop. Council directed staff to return in April with more detailed priorities and funding options tied to the council’s public-safety goals.
