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Belvidere police and fire report staffing gaps and steady EMS transports
Summary
Belvidere staff reported staffing gaps in the police department and described EMS/fire activity: the police have three open positions and the fire/EMS reported about 200 EMS calls with 167 transports in the period cited (about 5.6 transports per day); hiring and equipment repairs were underway.
City public-safety staff updated the Committee of the Whole on June 22 about police and fire/EMS staffing and operations.
On the police side, the chief reported three current open positions, two officers on long-term leave, three officers in the field-training program and one recruit in the basic academy scheduled to graduate in August. The Fire & Police Commission will review psychological and medical examinations of an entry-level applicant; conditional offers and polygraphs are part of the hiring process.
Captain Swanson reviewed recent fire and EMS activity, listing medical calls (strokes, seizures, overdoses), five vehicle accidents and multiple fire-related incidents including one structure fire and three vehicle fires. He said about 200 calls were EMS-related with 167 total transports — an average of roughly 5.6 transports per day — and that the highest transport destinations were St. Anthony’s and St. Luke’s. Swanson said hiring applications are being accepted through June 30 and that 32 completed applications had been received for testing.
Staff also noted equipment and facility work: roof work at Station Two has been completed and an out-of-service ladder truck is being repaired; the department is temporarily using an engine loaned from another district while repairs proceed.
Mayor and aldermen thanked staff and asked follow-up questions about EMS billing and whether the city will reassess recovery of ambulance-run charges; staff said they will follow up with the Fire Chief and report back if a formal study is recommended.
