New Philadelphia city officials are looking at how to best address some of the staffing shortages facing the police and fire departments.
Safety director Kevin Milligan says the fire department is down four firefighters, that includes one member who retired at the end of 2024 and three more who resigned near the end of 2025 – and none were replaced.
The police department totaled about 15,500 calls while operating with two officers short throughout 2025, and three short for the last quarter of the year, all while experiencing a 28-percent increase in call volume.
Milligan says that relying on technology, including the use of AI to help solve computer crimes, could be a key strategy for addressing future staffing challenges within the safety forces.
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