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Police chief warns of staffing shortfalls and aging cruiser fleet as department fields roughly 100,000 calls a year
Summary
Police Chief Brenda Perez told the finance committee the department handled about 100,000 calls in 2025, is authorized for 206 sworn officers but currently has 173 on the force, and urged a structured vehicle replacement cycle as many cruisers approach 7–15 years of service.
Brenda Perez, Brockton’s police chief, told the Finance Committee the Brockton Police Department answered approximately 100,000 calls for service in 2025, of which roughly three‑quarters were 911 calls, and that the department’s authorized strength is 206 sworn officers while current staffing stands at 173, leaving 33 vacancies.
That shortfall is driving overtime, recruitment efforts and operational changes, Perez said, noting the department expects 14 candidates to enter the academy in June and August and that the city’s cadet program has supplied numerous recent hires. “We have 33 openings … 14 candidates that are expected to go into the academy in June and August,” Perez said.
Perez also urged the council to fund a predictable, structured replacement cycle for police cruisers, arguing that mileage alone understates wear because emergency idling and specialized equipment accelerate mechanical stress. She described ranges of vehicle condition: roughly 12 units are 10–15 years old (recommended replacement within 1–3 years) and about 10 marked cruisers are 7–10 years old (recommended replacement in the next three years). “One hour of engine idling is equivalent to 30 to 33 miles of driven‑related engine wear,” Perez said, adding that a cruiser that displays 100,000 miles could have the equivalent wear of 200,000 miles.
Councilors pressed Perez and CFO Dr. Clarkson on options to reallocate salary savings from vacancies into traffic enforcement or overtime accounts to buy coverage while hiring continues. Dr. Clarkson said transfers from salary to overtime have been common during the year when vacancies require shift coverage and pledged to coordinate with the chief and the mayor on a plan to identify and move specific funds if the council agrees.
The chief outlined non‑patrol investments aimed at reducing future demand on sworn officers, including a full‑time clinician, recovery navigators and homelessness reduction staff; she noted the department also runs walk‑in and bike beats, impact shifts and traffic safety campaigns with state partners. Several councilors commended the city’s cadet and Citizens Police Academy programs as recruitment and community‑engagement tools.
Next steps: the department asked the committee to consider funding replacements on a 3–5 year cycle, and Dr. Clarkson indicated the administration may return during the fiscal year to request transfers to cover overtime if recruitment does not meet projections.
