Lehi police present staffing study showing weekday/evening shortfalls; chief proposes 4–5 year build plan
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Summary
A peak‑workload staffing study presented to the council showed persistent understaffing during most hours, with a major shortfall around 8 p.m.; the police chief recommended a multiyear staffing plan, described interim measures (online reporting, part‑time officers) and warned that grant-funded hires require the city to assume full costs after the grant period.
Police Chief Paul (referred to in the meeting as Chief Paul/Craft) briefed the council on a peak-workload staffing analysis used to evaluate patrol coverage as the city grows.
The study applies a 60/40 model (60% of officer time committed to response; 40% discretionary for proactive work) and recommends that approximately 60% of sworn officers be assigned to patrol. The chief said patrol allocation currently sits at about 62% of the workforce. However, the peak‑workload analysis shows the department is understaffed in most hours (roughly 21 of 24 hours), with the largest shortfall in the evening; at peak times the shortfall could reach the equivalent of dozens of officers according to the study’s metrics.
Chief Paul emphasized the model’s value in showing when and where gaps occur during the day and recommended developing a four‑ to five‑year staffing plan to close those gaps. He cautioned that the number of officers needed may exceed what the city can fund in a single budget cycle and that grants typically pay a decreasing share over three years, after which the city bears the full cost.
Council members asked for additional breakdowns — including high‑priority call types that require multiple officers, comparisons with other staffing studies (ORM/ICMA), and a shift‑by‑shift staffing table showing needed vs. current staffing. The chief described interim steps the department has taken (reallocating officers to high‑demand hours, online reporting to reduce response needs, hiring part‑time officers) and noted partnerships such as a proposed Utah County analytics substation to speed investigations.
No formal staffing hires were approved during the meeting; council members indicated support for data-driven budgeting and requested more detailed analyses to inform the upcoming budget retreat.
