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Residents raise home-invasion concerns at Prospect special meeting; council clarifies police staffing
Summary
During public comment at the Aug. 13 special meeting, resident Mark Duke described an early-morning home intrusion that left his household feeling unsafe; council members clarified that one part‑time police position is funded and that the chief is actively recruiting to fill it, and the mayor offered follow-up meetings with residents and police leadership.
Prospect — At the start of a special Prospect City Council meeting on Aug. 13, resident Mark Duke described a frightening early‑morning intrusion at his home this spring and urged the council to act to improve safety.
Duke told the council that around 5:30 a.m. in May five people in a white vehicle arrived at his property, with some entering his garage and truck, and that Prospect police responded quickly. He said the incident left him and his family feeling less safe, that they have since installed cameras and plan to pursue firearm training, and that he wants some kind of closure or action from the city.
Mayor Doug Barnsley asked Duke to provide documentation so city staff and police could follow up and said the mayor and police leadership would meet with him. Caroline Cameron, another resident, said she had attended the June council meeting when the council discussed funding another police position (part time versus full time) and said she thought a majority had voted the measure down. Council members responded that the city currently funds one additional part‑time position that has not been filled and that the police chief is actively recruiting.
What was said: "My wife went to investigate... she yelled out screaming, 'Mark, go get your gun,'" Duke recounted, describing how the episode unfolded and how it has changed his family's sense of safety. Caroline Cameron asked why the prior motion had been voted down and whether more policing was needed; council members explained that the part‑time post was funded and available.
What the council will do: The mayor invited residents to meet with him and the police chief to review documentation and discuss safety concerns in detail. No formal staffing change, new appropriation, or policy was adopted at the special meeting; the public‑safety discussion was limited to public comment and clarification about existing budgeted positions.
Context and caveats: The comments were part of the meeting’s public‑comment period and did not trigger formal action. Where residents referenced prior votes, council members clarified the current budget and recruitment status; the council suggested follow‑up meetings rather than immediate policy changes.
