Police and fire chiefs report declines in targeted calls, pilot community-policing expansion; resident raises complaint about OPD handling

Ocala Police Chief Mike Volcan and Fire Chief Clint Welborn provided department updates at the Jan. 7 Ocala City Council meeting that summarized 2024 activity and described recent operational changes; a resident used public comment to raise concerns about treatment by the Ocala Police Department and access to records.

Volcan presented a year‑in‑review snapshot that, according to his slides, included 65,640 dispatch calls for service, 2,554 self‑initiated calls, five homicides, 14 traffic fatalities and 683 Baker Act incidents. He cautioned the council that one slide’s wording around traffic crashes was unclear in the presentation; the transcript records the phrase "36 165 traffic crashes," which Volcan displayed as part of his map slides. Volcan said the crimestat map fluctuates and noted a recent two‑week period with higher volumes on the city’s west side. He also presented a monthly…