San Angelo police and fire chiefs warn staffing shortfalls risk service levels
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Summary
Police and fire leaders told the council understaffing and pay gaps are reducing enforcement capacity and increasing overtime; police said entry pay is ~12–15% below comparable cities and attrition is eroding patrol strength, prompting a retention/compensation request for council consideration.
San Angelo’s public‑safety leaders described staffing strains and urged council to consider compensation and hiring measures to retain personnel.
Police Chief Travis Griffith said the department is operating well below recommended staffing levels and that pay is materially below comparable Texas cities. He described mandatory overtime, difficulty recruiting qualified candidates, and a pattern of losing mid‑career officers to other agencies that pay significantly more. "When you're missing 45 police officers, it's hard to get the job done," he told council, and he urged priority for retention in upcoming budget discussions.
Fire leadership reported growth in fee revenue from ambulance billing and mutual‑aid reimbursements (TIFMAS), and outlined major capital and staffing needs, including a proposed Station 9 (approximate construction estimate $11.1M) and a ladder truck replacement that could exceed $2M; they also raised the possibility of using grant programs such as SAFER to offset personnel costs.
Council members acknowledged competing priorities across the workforce and the difficulty of raising large sums without tradeoffs elsewhere in the budget. No formal vote or staffing decision was taken; chiefs were asked to provide prioritized, costed requests for council consideration.
