City council approves new hires for fire/police

City plans to house PD in temporary headquarters until new building finished

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

The West Memphis City Council has made a decisive move by approving a resolution to increase personnel for both the West Memphis Fire Department and the Police Department during their recent meeting. The council approved the addition of 12 firefighters, contingent upon the department securing a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant to fund their salaries and benefits.

Fire Chief Barry Ealy presented the request, stressing the critical need for additional firefighters to maintain the city’s prestigious ISO 1 rating. This upgrade is particularly vital given the challenges that come with responding to emergencies at the Southland Casino’s high-rise building. “The demands of our growing community, especially with the activities at Southland Casino, necessitate this increase in personnel to ensure safety and effective emergency response,” Ealy stated..

Alongside the fire department’s expansion, the council also approved a resolution to raise the West Memphis Police Department’s staff from 91 to 112 officers. Mayor McClendon explained that 13 of the new hires will replace current officers assigned as School Resource Officers, while an additional eight will be dedicated to enhancing security at Southland Gaming. Importantly, with the school district and Southland Casino reimburssing the city for these positions, the new hires will effectively allow for more than 20 additional officers to be put on patrol, without straining the city’s budget.

In addition to personnel increases, the Police Committee reported on the urgency of acquiring eight new police vehicles, a request that was ncluded in the department’s existing budget. The council unanimously approved the purchase, ensuring that the police force will have the necessary tools to enhance their operations and improve community safety.