Background/Discussion
Calls for service have increased from 44,851 in 2011 to 56,577 in 2021. That is an increase of nearly 12,000 calls for service over the ten-year period. Trend patterns indicate that calls for service will increase to over 61,000 calls per year by 2025.
In an effort to maintain an efficient and reasonable response time and to ensure sufficient sworn staffing to keep citizens and officers safe, Chief Carmody requested that the Police Department be allowed to add three additional officers to the authorized strength for the fiscal year budget ending on June 30, 2023.
Mayor Walsh supported the increase in staffing to meet the listed goals. Further, City Council approved Resolution 22-77, endorsing the budget for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023.
The changes listed will allow the department to effectively staff personnel and duties to most effectively serve the citizens of Council Bluffs. With the changes proposed, the authorized strength for the Police Department will be: 121 Sworn and 22 Civilians.
Upon approval, the increase in sworn staffing for the Police Department would take place on July 1, 2022.