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North Royalton safety committee reviews police hiring, fire incidents and hydrant upkeep
Summary
Police and fire chiefs told the Safety Committee the city is near its budgeted police staffing level, reported recent significant fire incidents, and outlined a hydrant maintenance program budgeted for about 250 hydrants this year.
Police and Fire department leaders briefed the North Royalton Safety Committee on staffing, recent emergency calls and infrastructure work at the June 16 meeting.
Police Chief Keith Tarase said he sent May statistics to council and announced that a new officer was sworn in yesterday; that officer is an academy graduate who will begin field training next week and is expected to be independent after roughly 12–14 weeks. Tarase said two officers will attend the Ohio State Police academy in August with expected graduation next January, another will graduate this summer, and one conditional‑offer candidate is completing requirements. He said the city is at or very near its budgeted complement of 38 full‑time officers (the council‑allotted complement is 40 full‑time and one part‑time). "It will bring the department to 38 full‑time officers," he said.
Fire Chief Robert Chegan told the committee May’s run volume exceeded the prior year’s comparable month even though year‑to‑date totals remain lower. He said May and June have seen several significant incidents, including three fires on June 9, and described non‑hazardous natural‑gas odor calls handled in coordination with utility representatives. Chegan said a new medic unit is in production and is expected to be ready in October and that a pickup ordered for an assistant chief remains on order.
On infrastructure, Chegan said hydrant maintenance is underway in Ward 5 and that the current budget funds about 250 hydrants this year; timing for painting and repairs will depend on weather and operational demands. Mayor Paul Marnecheck asked whether the goal was to complete every hydrant within 10 years; Chegan described workload and prioritization, noting private and non‑dedicated streets are scheduled later in the cycle. "The budget is for 250," Chegan said, describing that number as approximate.
The chiefs also described training and protocols: Tarase noted newly hired officers follow academy and field‑training timelines; Tarase and Chegan described crisis‑intervention and regional EMS protocols used for behavioral and mental‑health incidents. Tarase said officers receive a 40‑hour crisis intervention training, which includes scenario work and local resource contact information.
The committee took no formal action beyond receiving the reports.
