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Committee approves APD reorganization to add one patrol officer for 2026
Summary
The Human Resources and Information Technology Committee voted 5-0 to approve an APD reorganization that adds one patrol officer to the 2026 table of organization, citing vacant salary dollars from military deployments and about $25,000 in expected overtime savings to cover the cost; members raised concerns about funding beyond 2027.
The Human Resources and Information Technology Committee voted unanimously to approve an APD reorganization that adds one patrol officer to the department’s table of organization for 2026.
Chief Olsen told the committee the Police Department is seeking the additional officer after a staffing analysis by Matrix recommended one more patrol officer. Olsen said the department can absorb the cost next year using vacant salary dollars that result from multiple officers’ military deployments and by applying an estimated $25,000 in annual overtime savings from a change to the canine officers’ schedule. “We did the math on it and determined that we would have enough funds that could support adding a police officer to our TO for 2026,” Olsen said.
Director Ashman told the committee she had discussed timing and funding with Chief Olsen and supported bringing the request forward now rather than waiting for the next budget cycle, saying the staffing study guided the decision and vacant salary dollars make the timing feasible. “I think the request is supported by data, which is that staffing study,” Ashman said.
Several alder members asked whether the temporary savings cited by the department are likely to persist. Alder Hayden asked how confident the department was that vacancy-driven salary savings and schedule-related overtime savings would continue beyond 2027 and whether the city might need to identify general-fund money by 2028 to retain the new full-time officer. Olsen responded that future budgets are uncertain and that year-to-year funding decisions will be for the council to address in later budget cycles.
Alder Wolf said they shared the long-term concern but affirmed support for investing in public safety now. The chair thanked officers for their military service and said the additional position is a short-term solution while the city continues to evaluate long-range staffing needs.
Votes at a glance • Item “20 five-fourteen 94” — Request for approval of an APD reorganization to add one patrol officer (approved, vote: 5-0).
The committee also received informational item 2095, a recruitment status report dated 12/04/2025; Director Ashman offered to answer questions and none were raised. The meeting adjourned after the report.
