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West Chester fire, police outline staffing, accreditation and technology plans for 2026
Summary
Fire and police leaders told trustees that accreditation, station relocations and investments in recruitment and technology are central to 2026 planning: the fire department pursues accreditation and potential station moves to meet a five-minute response goal; police seek to reach a 92-officer complement and expand cameras, drones and a civilian intelligence hire.
Fire Chief Prince and Assistant Police Chief Hoffbauer presented public-safety priorities and budget highlights as part of the 2026 operational budget work session.
Chief Prince described a multi-year accreditation process that has led to a recommended accreditation status and a peer-review hearing scheduled for March. "The accreditation process is a very in-depth data-heavy exercise," Prince said, noting it evaluates response times, station locations, EMS billing and other operations. Prince said the department set a community-driven response-time goal of five minutes and is studying relocating Stations 4 and 5 and potentially adding a Station 6; securing appropriate property now would be a priority if trustees approve relocations.
Prince also listed infrastructure needs: about $200,000 is budgeted for apparatus maintenance and repairs, and several station mechanical and roofing systems require replacement or repair.
Assistant Chief Hoffbauer, speaking in Chief Revoltz's absence, discussed recruitment and technology investments. "Currently we have 89 sworn officers; our complement is 92," Hoffbauer said, and described outreach at academies and job fairs as well as a 118-day average from application to hire. Hoffbauer said the department uses grants, asset forfeiture and state training-reimbursement funds (about $90,000) to offset training and equipment costs. Technology items mentioned included a FLOC camera installation (approximately $43,000), additional body-worn cameras for SWAT and detectives (about $45,000), drone upgrades and hiring a civilian intelligence officer to support digital and analytical capacity.
Both chiefs framed workforce investment as essential to sustaining service levels, and Brown said the township budgets conservatively for these levy-supported funds so carryover balances can extend levy life before asking voters again.
Next steps: Chief Prince will pursue the accreditation hearing in March; trustees and administration will evaluate property and budget implications if station relocations move forward later in 2026.
