- File Name
- Public_Safety_Minutes_050526.pdf
- File Type
- PDF (156 KB)
- Related Meeting
- Public Safety Committee Meeting (May 5, 2026 6:00 pm)
- Committee
- Public Safety Committee
- Category
- Meeting Minutes
Download Public_Safety_Minutes_050526.pdf
REPORT – PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE May 5, 2026
The Standing Committee on Public Safety to which was referred the following reports as follows:
- Resolve: Update from police chief, fire chief, and animal control officer.
having considered the same, report FAVORABLE by Motion of Councilor Asack, 2nd by Councilor Farwell.
MINUTES – PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE May 5, 2026
The Standing Committee on Public Safety was called to order at 6:08 p.m. by Councilor Thomspon with Councilors Farwell, Asack, and Thompson present.
Agenda read into the record.
The Committee first considered the following:
#1 on agenda
Comments by Councilor Thompson (written reports received)
Comments by Police Chief Brenda Perez (206 positions, 33 vacancies, 6 for other positions, 18 going into the academy, did ask for 30, will be asking for another list, expects 41 openings next year, 1800 overtime shifts, 27% of work shift not available due to vacancies or other reasons, summary of calls and responses, grants, arrests, citations, verbal warning count, community engagement, significant drops in crime, move into the public safety building, 30 year old crime resolved, summary of significant arrests and incidents in the city)
Comments by Councilor Asack (happy to hear crime rates are down, happy to hear this information to share with the public, period of time? What is working for the department)
Comments by Police Chief Brenda Perez (2 year comparison, work of the officers, long standing relationships with state and federal partners, new thinking)
Comments by Councilor Farwell (keep up traffic enforcement, hopeful for recruitment for vacancies)
Comments by Councilor Thompson (thanks the chief and department, comments re vacancies and recruitment, traffic enforcement campaigns, task force)
Comments by Police Chief Brenda Perez (cadet openings, recruiting at high schools, recruitment video, information sessions, grants for traffic campaigns, enforcement, postings for task force, interviews)
Comments by Fire Chief Brian Nardelli (number of incidents, going up each year, 36 working fires, double from previous years, 11 second alarms, 2 multiple alarm fires, staffing at 232, 209 firefighting personnel, projects completed, fire apparatus, thermal imaging cameras, 2 maydays in 2025, keeping firefighters safe to do their job, summary of incidents, fire youth academy, new positions added through grants and through the mayor/council, more firefighters able to respond, one fatal fire in 5 years)
Comments by Councilor Asack (thanks given to the department)
Comments by Councilor Farwell (thanks given to the department)
Comments by Councilor Thompson (thanks given, staffing and recruitment, building conditions, public safety building)
Comments by Fire Chief Brian Nardelli (struggling, mold assessment, capital improvement discussions, plans, 2 way traffic)
Comments by Animal Control Officer Thomas Dechellis (annual kennel inspections, 3 in the City, reports reviewed)
Comments by Councilor Asack (personal kennel licenses)
Comments by Animal Control Officer Thomas Dechellis (depends on the number of dogs, staffing issues)
Comments by Councilor Farwell (work of the department)
Comments by Councilor Thompson (chicken coops)
Comments by Animal Control Officer Thomas Dechellis (health department)
Motion to report FAVORABLE by Councilor Asack , 2nd by Councilor Farwell. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion to adjourn by Councilor Farwell, 2nd by Councilor Asack at 7:05 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05p.m.
Documents received: Public Safety Committee Update May 5, 2026, from the Brockton Police Department