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Upland marshal swears in new officer, flags staffing and equipment shortfalls; volunteer fire runs rise
Summary
Marshal Andy Cassidy swore in Officer Kinzie Workman, told the council the police department is understaffed and has failing vehicles and laptops, and said the department chose Axon body cameras; the volunteer fire department reported 419 runs for 2023–24, up from 353 the prior year.
Marshal Andy Cassidy swore in Officer Kinzie Workman during the Upland Town Council meeting on Nov. 19 and updated the council on public-safety operations, saying the department is not at full force and is dealing with aging vehicles and failing laptops.
"The department is not at full force. The department is having issues with their two older vehicles and with their laptops. He would like to replace a vehicle in the new future," Cassidy told the council. Cassidy said the department selected Axon body cameras because they are less expensive and provide the storage needed; he said the council will need to draft an ordinance establishing guidelines and fees for requesting body-camera footage.
Town Attorney Adrienne Rines Hammond told the council that formal citation for unsafe-building violations could prompt homeowner compliance after Cassidy said roughly half of properties on the town's Unsafe Building list are now in compliance and the remainder remain in cleanup. Cassidy said some homeowners are past the ordinance deadline but he prefers giving them an opportunity to comply before engaging the courts; Hammond said citations may move compliance.
On volunteer fire services, former Fire Chief Bruce Howard presented final-run statistics for the 2023–24 term: 419 runs, up from 353 the prior year. Gary Preston, newly elected fire chief, introduced himself to the council and received the council's thanks for the department's service.
The council took no formal action on police staffing or vehicle replacements at the meeting, but accepted the marshal's updates and directed staff to pursue the administrative steps needed to implement equipment replacements and a body-camera ordinance. A follow-up on the North Lift Station completion and continued sewer ban on the north side was also recorded as a pending operational matter tied to utilities and public-safety planning.
The council's next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Upland Town Hall.
