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Police chief and council discuss staffing needs, costs and longer-term planning
Summary
Council and Police Chief discussed whether the department can move toward two-officer patrols; the chief said adding one 24/7 position effectively requires hiring multiple officers and that the city must plan within a capital-improvement strategy and revenue constraints.
The police chief briefed the council on recent department activity, equipment sales and recruitment, and the council focused on the question of adding a second officer to each patrol shift.
A council member who did a ride-along relayed officers' concerns about single-officer shifts and asked how soon the department should aim for two-officer patrols. The chief said he planned to present the staffing question to the city manager and the board and that while the department recognizes the safety benefit of two-officer responses, it is not immediately feasible given budget constraints.
The chief explained that to add a single 24/7 seat it is not sufficient to hire one person; the department would need to hire multiple officers to cover 24-hour staffing and leave costs, and that the real cost is high when accounting for salary, benefits, training and equipment. Council members and staff discussed including staffing changes in a longer-term capital improvement plan and noted the city's limited operating reserves.
