Committee reviews request for nine police recruitment positions and discusses academy class sizes

The committee reviewed a personnel request to create a recruitment unit for the police department and considered adding nine positions to accelerate hiring.

Speaker 1 described a proposed unit that would concentrate resources on public safety recruitment and said the department still needs staff to run hiring even if the department does not have separate funds. "Son 9 posiciones, colegas, ¿correcto?" Speaker 1 asked aloud when reading the request. Members acknowledged the proposal but indicated it might be paused for further information and coordination with the mayor’s office.

Police representatives reported there are candidates ready for training: a December class of 56 was noted and staff said they expected future classes of about 40–45 depending on funding and eligibility windows; average class size last year was about 34. Committee members asked staff to provide cost comparisons between larger and smaller academy classes and to return with more detail before final action.

The transcript does not record a final vote on the nine positions; committee members requested additional information before the council acts.