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Police chief warns of response gaps as calls surge; asks council to plan staffing for 'Point' build‑out
Summary
Police Chief Ferguson reported a 51.4% increase in calls for service over two years, flagged coverage gaps west of 300 East and urged early planning for additional officers tied to the Point development, saying one dedicated officer on site equates to five bodies for continuous coverage.
Police Chief Ferguson presented department goals and data to the council, saying calls for service rose 51.4% in two years while officer counts remained around 52. He stated, “We have 52 officers,” and described daily swell due to commerce and large apartment complexes causing concentrated demand in specific areas west of 300 East.
He said GIS mapping shows times when East Bench or Suncrest areas can be 10–12 minutes away for backup because no officers are available, and that the Point development will require additional staffing: "On day 1, I've identified we're gonna need 1 full time police officer for the Point project... But you gotta remember that's 5 police officers because I have to be there 24 7." He encouraged council to include phased personnel planning in capital and operational forecasts and recommended technology (e.g., license‑plate reader systems) and dedicated traffic officers as strategies to reduce calls and improve allocation.
Council members and staff discussed timing and funding: impact fees and projected retail sales tax from the Point may help offset costs but staffing timing needs to be balanced with actual build‑out and retail uptake. The council asked police and staff to model personnel timing tied to different development timelines.
