Officer Jennifer Atherton presented a proposal on Nov. 10 to create a dedicated childcare program for police and public-safety families through a partnership with the National Law Enforcement Foundation.

Atherton said the model would offer extended hours (approximately 17 hours per day, seven days a week, including holidays) and an enrollment preference for vetted public-safety families. The site under consideration would initially provide capacity for 98 children per shift (two shifts would provide up to 196 daily seats), serve newborns through pre-kindergarten, and pay teachers at least 20% above market to promote staff stability.

Atherton and supporters said the program could reduce turnover among officers who cite childcare scheduling as a reason for leaving. The presentation included an example calculation saying retaining 14 officers could save roughly $4,000,000, equal to about one year of childcare operations under the model. Atherton said some cities (San Diego, St. Louis County and partners in Idaho) have used similar models and reported positive retention and morale effects.

Council members expressed support and suggested exploring partnership pilots with community centers and philanthropic organizations to accelerate availability and to reach officers who do not live near a single facility. Atherton said feasibility studies, letters of support and fundraising work are underway; construction could start in 2026 if fundraising succeeds and operations could begin in 2027.

Why it matters: Childcare availability and scheduling flexibility directly affect shift-based public-safety employees. The proposal aims to address recruitment and retention barriers by providing a tailored childcare option for officers and dispatch staff.

No formal council commitment or funding was approved in the committee; presenters requested city assistance where feasible and said they would coordinate further with council staff.