Police, fire and public works give year‑start updates to Brentwood Public Safety Committee

At the Jan. 7 Brentwood Public Safety Committee meeting, department representatives gave routine operational updates covering policing, firefighting and infrastructure work.

The police representative said crime is down in some major categories and highlighted a retail holiday detail that documented six shoplifting incidents and resulted in five arrests made as the incidents occurred. The department also completed scenario‑based training for 22 officers and plans to recommend four chief's commendations and an officer‑of‑the‑year nomination to the Board of Aldermen.

The fire department representative, identified in the meeting as Ed, reported two active vacancies following recent resignations and an ongoing hiring process with upcoming testing dates; the department said a training tower remains on schedule for early spring use. A new fire engine's final inspection and delivery were delayed, with the department now expecting inspection and delivery in late January or February.

Public Works provided project updates: an electrician will service a control cabinet on Manchester Road to restore decorative lights; a push‑button component continues to delay McKnight Road improvements (with an estimated completion date of Feb. 12 unless a substitute is approved); sidewalk cutting is underway in Brentwood Forest; solar light outreach will be coordinated with communications staff; and decorative fence panels on the Litsinger Road Bridge damaged by a motorcyclist are scheduled for replacement by Jan. 16 and will be submitted to insurance for reimbursement.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about notification for prescribed burns and whether external agencies inform municipal departments; the fire representative said notifications are typically posted by the Department of Conservation and offered to contact a conservation department contact about better notification. The meeting included no votes on department items.