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Police and fire leaders tell Forest Park council staffing, vehicles and gear strain response capacity
Summary
Police and fire officials reported heavy overtime, an understaffed police fleet and aging fire equipment; the council discussed leasing squad cars, drone training, pending FEMA grant applications for SCBA equipment, ambulance procurement and timing for firehouse rehabilitation tied to an existing $1.5M allocation.
Public-safety leaders told commissioners the combined pressure of rising call volumes and aging equipment is creating operational strain and will shape FY2026 budget needs.
The police department described a depleted fleet and staffing pinch: the department is projecting five officers on patrol at a time, plans to swear in new hires soon to reach roughly 35 of 38 sworn positions, but continues to rely on overtime and is exploring fleet-lease options to avoid a multi-year replacement backlog. The police chief said some proposals may allow the…
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