Irving police present five‑year staffing plan calling for 86 officers and 61 civilians

Chief Derek Miller presented a five‑year staffing plan designed to expand patrol capacity, add crisis and homeless response teams, strengthen investigative support with civilian analysts and criminalists, and reduce sworn officer tasks that can be handled by professional staff. "The total plan was proposed, to add 86 sworn officers and 61 professional staff," Miller said, summarizing the scope and estimated cost of roughly $17.7 million over five years.

Miller proposed a staged approach: in FY2026 he will reassign existing vacant sworn positions to launch priority units (homeless outreach, crisis response and focused patrol 'power shifts') while requesting 11 new professional (civilian) staff in year 1 to support the changes. New sworn positions would be requested in later years as hiring capacity and budget allow. The chief emphasized that adding civilian analysts and investigative support is intended to let sworn detectives focus on core field investigations and reduce overtime.

Council members pressed on implementation logistics, facility needs and long‑term operating costs. Miller said a coordinated facilities strategy is underway to consolidate scattered offices into more efficient central locations and that equipment, training and vehicle needs were included in the five‑year cost estimates. Staff will return with funding schedules and budget amendments as hiring and bargaining decisions proceed.