Calera public-safety leaders report 35% year-over-year rise in calls for service; arrests and pursuits down

Calera public-safety leadership told the council that operational demand is increasing sharply even as some measures of crime enforcement declined.

"Last month we ran 258 emergency responses. That's a 10% increase over February of 2025," Chief Kendrick said during the council work session, summarizing February run data and noting an overall increase in call volumes. He reported 13 mental-health emergency calls in February — roughly three per week — and said such calls present particular risks for first responders.

Year-to-year data cited by the chief showed calls for service rose from 13,266 in 2024 to 17,873 in 2025, an increase of 4,607 calls (about 35%). By contrast, arrests fell to 538 in the most recent reporting year from 570 the previous year, and pursuit incidents declined from 56 in 2020 to 14 last year. The chief attributed some declines to sustained enforcement and prosecution efforts and said the department is emphasizing de-escalation and mental-health training.

Chief Kendrick also described a roughly 20–29% overlap rate of simultaneous calls, which he said complicates staffing and resource deployment. He urged residents to help by providing timely tips and updates to police when appropriate and praised dispatchers who handle multiple emergency lines.

The council did not adopt new public-safety policy during the work session; the report served as an operational update and set the stage for continued discussion about staffing, training and community-based responses to mental-health crises.

Source: Chief Kendrick, Calera public-safety briefing to council.