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Spring City police chief: 'A one-officer department is no longer sustainable'
Summary
Chief Chad Huff told the council the department logged 332 calls in 2025 and warned that the city soon needs a second officer or a contract with another agency; he cautioned that contracting can reduce local ordinance enforcement.
Spring City Police Chief Chad Huff told the council on Feb. 5 that the city’s single-officer department is struggling to meet call volume and operational needs and that city leaders should consider hiring a second officer or contracting with an outside agency.
Chief Huff reported 332 calls for service in 2025, ranging from animal issues to aggravated assault with a weapon, a DUI, mental-health crisis calls and one attended death that required the medical examiner. He said the department handled 67 ordinance violations since January 2022 and completed 43 hours of professional training in 2025.
"A one-officer police department is no longer sustainable given the city's call volume and responsibilities," Huff said, adding that contracting with a sheriff's office or regional agency is a common alternative but can mean loss of local ordinance enforcement and difficulty rebuilding a local department later.
Huff said he secured a $4,500 equipment grant and used much of it to buy improved event signage. He emphasized proactive summer-night patrols and traffic enforcement designed to curb youth racing, which he said has declined because of ongoing enforcement and parent outreach.
Council reaction: Members acknowledged resource constraints and discussed budget priorities; no final staffing decision was made at the meeting. The council will consider long-term options, including budget adjustments or interlocal agreements, in upcoming budget discussions.
