With city officials looking for ways to increase the number of police officers in Worcester, the City Council voted Tuesday to explore adding a second class to the Worcester Police Department’s academy in 2027.
The proposal follows last week’s discussion of police staffing, when Police Chief Paul Saucier told councilors the department currently has 478 officers and that his goal is to increase that number to at least 538.
The motion, proposed by Councilor Morris Bergman, asked the city to consider adding a second class beginning in July, after the first class, which starts in January, finishes, and funding it in the fiscal 2028 budget.
Bergman cited the fact that illness, vacation and hospital escorts can “dwindle down” the number of officers on the street during a shift and said an additional academy class could give the department a needed boost.
“I do think having two classes in 2027 would be a great way to start moving forward, and not only maintaining the number we have, but start getting to the goal of where we really need to be which is over the 500 mark,” Bergman said.
Council Vice Chairman Khrystian King said the idea is “pie in the sky,” because it had been said that it takes a full seven months from the start of the process, including vetting and background checks, before a new officer is actively on the job. He added that a second class may simply not be feasible.
City Manager Eric Batista said he has not determined what the cost would be because that might depend on whether a full class of 43 is added or a smaller number. He said it could also affect the city’s current contract with the police union and salary increases already in the budget. The city may not be able to approve the funding before the fiscal 2028 budget is approved.
“That additional cost is something we have not analyzed,” Batista said.
King asked for a report, as a friendly amendment, before any decision is made.
Mayor Joe Petty said he had asked Saucier how a new class would work, and it likely would not produce new officers until sometime in 2028 because of the time the process takes. Still, Petty said the need is urgent.
“It’s sort of an emergency when you think about it,” he said, adding that the city faced a similar need with the fire department years ago.
Bergman said the questions of feasibility and logistics would need to be answered, but the hope is that a second class could at least be started in 2027.
“If it can be done, great. If it can’t, I’ll welcome the report back,” Bergman said.
The request was approved by consensus.
