Glendale Council approves first phase of Project 300 to add 23 sworn officers

The Glendale City Council voted to adopt the first phase of “Project 300,” a multi‑year plan from the Glendale Police Department to increase sworn staffing by 52 officers over three phases and to start by adding 23 sworn officers in Phase 1.

Chief Adam Sid and City Manager Ardy Galanian told the council the proposal responds to increased downtown activity, higher calls for service in recent years and traffic and school safety concerns. Staff presented a phased approach to hire 23 officers in Phase 1 (43 officers total in patrol additions across phases, plus traffic and investigative staffing), with a roughly $5.7 million annual personnel cost for Phase 1 and about $1.0 million in one‑time vehicles and equipment for the initial phase.

City finance staff showed the projected impact of fully implementing each phase on the city’s five‑year forecast. They said Phase 1 could be absorbed without immediate structural change but noted full implementation of Phases 2–3 as proposed would drive a sustained increase in annual cost (roughly $11–16 million depending on implementation timing) and reduce general fund reserves from current policy levels unless new revenues are identified or other cuts made. Staff also told council hiring and training realities mean it will take roughly two to three years for Phase 1 positions to be fully on patrol and out of field training.

Council members pressed for implementation details and monitoring: several asked that school resource officers and traffic enforcement be prioritized within the Phase 1 mix. Chief Sid said Phase 1 would include staffing increases for traffic enforcement and that, when fully implemented, the department expects to restore the SRO (school resource officer) presence to cover middle and high schools.

After public comment both for and against the staffing increase, council voted unanimously to adopt Phase 1 and authorize the associated appropriation and staffing action to add 23 sworn positions as the first step of Project 300. The motion did not identify a specific phased hiring schedule beyond staff’s projections; council directed staff to report back on implementation metrics and on options for funding subsequent phases, including potential links to development activity and other revenue options.

Meeting context: the vote occurred amid an extended budget and five‑year forecast discussion in which council and staff emphasized the long‑term fiscal consequences of recurring personnel costs.

Action and vote: Council approved Phase 1 and the appropriation necessary to implement the 23 sworn positions; roll call votes were recorded in favor by the five members present.

What’s next: staff will begin Phase 1 recruitment and return with periodic reports on hiring, costs, overtime savings and performance indicators tied to crime, response times, traffic enforcement and school safety.