SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — At 2021 budget hearings on Tuesday, Sioux Falls City Council heard the police and fire departments make their pitches.
Police Chief Matt Burns says that as the city grows so does the need for more officers. That’s why he’s asking for 5 additional employees for the police department.
He also talked about the importance of getting body cams for all his officers.
“The recording of interactions from this perspective may reduce officers’ use of force, officer complaints, and increase officer and citizen accountability.”
The wider use of bodycams may add to the pressure on the police to release video to the public and the media. Burns explained to the council that officers record very sensitive, private, and often emotional situations with all kinds of people.
“..And to have a policy that you might just be able to….be able to get this video in a certain time and be mandated to turn it over, is at best not a good idea.”
Fire Chief Brad Goodroad explained the need for additional employees to man the new fire station being built on the eastside. He says the new team will help reduce average response times.
“So we are certainly going to move to improve our response times. We’re pushing that over eight minutes response time when we want to be more in that five-minute, 12- second response time.”
Council asked Goodroad where he thinks the next fire stations will be built. Somewhere on the southside, he predicted, perhaps in the growing South Cliff area.
