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Dubuque council approves fire-station study; police report highlights technology, behavioral-health response
Summary
Council contracted a $97,500 fire station location and facility study to guide long-term station investments and condition assessments; police chief presented the 2025 annual report citing low crime, expanded nonsworn analytic staff and more behavioral-health calls handled by specialized officers.
The Dubuque City Council approved a consultant contract on April 6 to complete a comprehensive fire station location and facility study aimed at guiding long-term capital and staffing decisions.
Fire Chief Amy Sheller recommended hiring Wendell + Mitchell Associates for $97,500 to produce a data-driven assessment of station condition, occupancy needs, response-time modeling and prioritized capital costs. The study will estimate repair versus replacement costs for existing stations and model location alternatives, with a target to report back to council in late summer.
"It brings everything together — condition assessment, station location and cost estimates — so we can make data-driven decisions," Chief Sheller said.
Police annual report: technology, nonsworn specialists and crisis response
Separately, Police Chief Jeremy Jensen presented the department’s 2025 annual report, highlighting investments in a precision policing center and in nonsworn forensic/analytic staff who review cameras and manage cases. Jensen said the center handled hundreds of camera reviews and hundreds of staff-hours in its first full year and credited those resources with accelerating investigations and improving clearance rates in complex cases.
The department also reported continued low levels of stranger violent crime; many reported incidents involve known parties. The chief said behavioral-health (CIT) calls have risen and that trained crisis teams aim to reduce jail time and repeat response cycles for people in crisis.
Council action and next steps
Council approved the fire-station study contract unanimously. Chief Sheller and staff said the study will return priorities and cost estimates that the council can use to schedule capital projects and staffing; one source of potential funding is a federal SAFER grant the city plans to pursue for firefighter positions. Police leaders said continued investment in analytic staff and community programs supports quicker investigations and improved outcomes.
