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Council debates 24‑hour police coverage; members seek data before committing
Summary
Councilors discussed citizen requests for 24‑hour police coverage, with some urging data on overnight calls and others warning of budget and staffing strain. No formal change in coverage was adopted; members directed the chief to present a staffing analysis at the May budget meeting.
Preston City Council held an extended discussion on requests for 24‑hour police coverage, but deferred any formal decision pending more data and fiscal analysis.
Brent Dodge, who introduced the topic, said the police chief is open to expanded coverage but described it as a capacity issue: “In his mind and in my mind's eye, it's a matter of capacity,” he said, noting staffing, holidays and training reduce available patrol hours. Council members emphasized the difference between 'rolling' patrols and 'on‑call' coverage; Todd Thomas and others said on‑call coverage exists now through county, city, fire and EMS arrangements.
Chris Larson asked for empirical data dating back to 2009 on calls between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., reporting an average of roughly six calls per month in that window and noting many were medical responses. Larson cautioned that while any call matters, the data may not yet justify rolling overnight patrols. Several councilors said the issue will be revisited during the May budget process when the police chief can present staffing scenarios and cost implications.
No motion was made to change coverage at this meeting; the council directed staff and the chief to provide staffing analyses and call‑type breakdowns to inform budget deliberations.
