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Police year-in-review and Fire-Rescue grant items highlighted in council work session
Summary
Chief Phil Rollinson presented department staffing, crime and calls-for-service figures and ongoing technology and outreach projects; Fire-Rescue Chief Johnathan Hardin summarized grant-funded equipment purchases, ETJ inspection challenges and a multi-department vehicle replacement plan.
The Washington Police Department and Fire-Rescue delivered annual and project updates to the council on May 28, describing personnel levels, key crime statistics and grant-funded equipment.
Police Chief Phil Rollinson said the department includes 27 sworn patrol officers, five detectives, two captains, six telecommunicators and three non-sworn staff. Rollinson reviewed calls-for-service figures (1,391 911 calls and 7,710 non-emergency calls in 2025), officer-initiated calls and officer workload averages. Crime statistics compared 2025 and 2026 first-quarter totals; Rollinson also detailed enforcement figures and current projects including research into camera and license-plate-reader (LPR) technology, digital-forensics upgrades, gang prevention partnerships and improvements to RMS and crime-mapping for targeted enforcement.
Fire-Rescue Chief Johnathan Hardin described Assistance to Firefighters Grant-funded activities (2025 grant $189,350) such as replacing aging hose, acquiring turtle nozzles for electric-vehicle fires, updating appliances and installing a skid unit on Squad-2 to improve off-road response. Hardin also discussed fire prevention and code-enforcement work (schools, the STEM Center, airport and apartment inspections) and the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) challenges that create jurisdictional confusion when businesses dispute inspection practices beyond corporate limits.
Staff outlined a long-term vehicle replacement plan across departments to allow predictable budgeting and optimize asset life; the presentation included an inventory of vehicles and intended replacement sequencing.
No formal votes were recorded on these briefings; council members were informed and staff will continue planned procurements and program implementation.
