Police staffing lag behind growth formula
Summary
The police officers' union president told the council the department is running three officers per shift, well below the general plan's 1.25-per-1,000 standard, and asked for 38 to 40 sworn officers. Council directed staffing reports at future meetings.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Aug 19, 2026.
Impact analysis
Funding additional officers would require general fund resources; Measure T already supports over 50% of police salaries.
Residents seeking faster police response and officers currently working understaffed shifts.
Current officers face burnout under minimum staffing; response times may suffer.
Mentions & discussions (2)
City Council Special - Aug 19, 2026
The old general plan formula called for about 1.25 officers per 1,000 residents — roughly 37 officers — but the city has about 28 sworn officers (full allocation 32). Staffing has been flat for 20-30 years while the population grows; a staffing plan is due before year's end.
City Council Regular - Mar 4, 2026
The police officers' union president told the council the department is running three officers per shift, well below the general plan's 1.25-per-1,000 standard, and asked for 38 to 40 sworn officers. Council directed staffing reports at future meetings.
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