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Report: Glendale not meeting response time goals

Posted at 10:37 PM, Apr 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-12 08:13:06-04

A public meeting in Glendale Tuesday will review the findings from a report that looks at the problems facing the police and fire departments.

The report reveals the department is not meeting the goals set for response times. For 90 percent of the calls, the first responding officers should get there in less than five minutes for priority one--also known as emergency calls. But the department hasn’t reached that goal in five years, dropping slightly in 2015.

It also reveals, in some cases, backup officers take 10 to 15 minutes to get to the scene. Their role is essential for the safety of the first responding officer.

The study attributes the main reason for the slow response time to staffing issues. The department not only deals with people who are on vacation or leave, but also has 13 open vacancies. The staffing outlook for the near future could get even worse, as up to a dozen officers are expected to retire soon.

Dispatchers were also criticized because they weren’t meeting the goal of having 90 percent of their calls answered in less than 10 seconds. There, staffing issues were also to blame.

The report also picks apart the city and fire department. The whole study will be revealed at a public meeting at 1 p.m.