Flagstaff police and fire chiefs outline staffing, technology and community response plans

Police and fire leaders briefed the Flagstaff City Council on staffing, crime trends and new technology at a combined special meeting and work session on April 8.

Police Chief Sean Conley told council the department is focusing on reorganizing leadership into separate deputy chiefs for patrol and criminal investigations, improving technology, and expanding community engagement. “Our mission… is to protect and preserve life, property, and public order through elite service,” Conley said. He reported a 51% increase in violent crime in the last year and said aggravated assaults and intoxication-related incidents are a driving factor for the rise.

Conley said the department’s sworn allocation is 119 positions and that the current sworn vacancy is about 7.5% overall, with an 18% vacancy in patrol and 7.1% in criminal investigations. He said the department recruited nine officers this year and continues efforts to improve retention. Conley also described new technology pilots — including SpiderTech and an expanded Axon package — intended to improve response, reporting and community transparency.

Fire Chief Mark Gaylord and other fire leaders presented parallel updates on operations, training and emergency medical services. The Flagstaff Fire Department reported 109 total personnel, with 90 deployed under operations and a mix of fire prevention, wildland and support staff. EMS call volume increased sharply: the fire department logged more than 18,000 incidents and 19,730 unit runs in 2024, and staff noted the system is “getting close to that 20,000 mark.”

Seth Greger, EMS battalion chief, described the House of Jacks recruitment program and a volunteer “Great Share” program that have helped recruit and prepare firefighters; the programs have produced dozens of hires regionally. The department also described a newly acquired quint, two bond-funded Type 3 engines and noncombustion battery-powered rescue tools intended to reduce operational emissions.

Both chiefs highlighted co‑located response and partnership programs. The CARES (Community Assistance, Referral and Outreach Services) unit — a firefighter EMT paired with a mental‑health clinician — fielded roughly 1,800 calls in the past year and, department presenters said, diverted about 87% of those callers away from emergency rooms. The fire department also outlined its community risk reduction work, wildfire treatments and training, including annual wildland refresher training for operational staff.

Council members asked about recruitment and vacancies; Gaylord said as of the morning of April 8 the fire department had three vacancies and was receiving more applications than in recent weeks. Conley said the department will bring a crime-reduction plan to a future work session that will outline roles, responsibilities and data-driven strategies to reduce property and violent crime.

Council members praised community engagement components — ride‑alongs, community advisory boards and outreach events — and also asked for additional detail in budget planning related to staffing and technology investments. Both chiefs said they would return with more detailed follow-ups as portions of their operational plans and budget proposals move toward council consideration.

Ending: Council received the presentations and did not take any formal action on the items presented. Staff said more detailed proposals and budget requests will return to council in upcoming work sessions and budget discussions.