FIRE, POLICE TO ADD SEVERAL TO STAFF
The City of Fort Worth now has slightly larger police and fire departments, thanks to the city council approving a couple of agenda items at its Tuesday meeting.
The council adopted an ordinance to increase the fire department by 14 and another to increase the police department by 38. Both changes go into effect Oct. 1 when the Fiscal Year 2020 budget is implemented.
The fire department additions will include eight new firefighters, three new engineers, two lieutenants, and one captain. The total number of those in the fire department is now 939.
The new positions will enable staffing of the new Fire Station 43 in far west Fort Worth.
In the police department, 35 are intended to fulfill the first phase of a five-year staffing plan. This phase includes twenty-three officers, one corporal/detective, and 11 sergeants.
In addition, one sergeant will be added as part of reinstating the Police Cadet Program, and two officers will be added as school resource officers for Northwest and Eagle Mountain Saginaw School Districts.
District 7 Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Shingleton said the additions will also help offset the regular attrition and retirements within both departments. Also, with Fort Worth being one of the fastest growing cities in America, growing both departments only makes sense, he said.
“Neither go early very often, but we have to beef up retirement,” he said. “And the growth of the city we have to consider the coverage we need.”