Police chief reports staffing updates and no major incidents during eclipse; lateral hire announced

Police Chief Marlo told the council the department deployed officers to assist neighboring jurisdictions after a tornado and provided extended coverage for the recent eclipse events without major incidents.

Chief Marlo detailed 12-hour shifts that ensured patrol coverage from early morning to the following morning during the eclipse period and said traffic was heavy in the evening but manageable. He also announced the hiring of lateral applicant Jade Sheely (identified in the meeting as a Champaign County Sheriff's deputy with roughly five to six years of experience); the chief said Sheely will be sworn in May 3 and should begin active patrol duty around May 19 if training proceeds as expected.

The chief and other administrators thanked volunteers and partner agencies for event support. There were no formal motions or votes tied to the staffing report during the meeting.