Public Safety Committee approves minutes; police, fire give staffing, facilities and arson-canine updates

The Public Safety Committee convened in November 2025, approved the previous meeting minutes by voice vote, and heard reports from police and fire representatives on staffing, facility projects and a recently awarded canine arson-detection grant.

Police Chief (speaker S3) told the committee the department's sworn roster had dipped to 152 officers from about 163 recently and said the department hopes to hire roughly five more officers within the next month. "We're at 152 right now," the chief said, adding that the department uses staffing buffers in each unit and that coverage remains "manageable." He also confirmed the department's budgeted headcount is 173 sworn officers.

The chief described several operational and capital items under way: he said staff will discuss a firearms procurement package with finance in November to acquire the same gun and optics together (a potential cost and time saver), the department will begin final-design meetings with architects for a new Public Safety Building and anticipates some interior demolition to create an empty shell for fit-out, and the department will revise its policy manual…