Santa Rosa Public Safety Subcommittee Meeting – February 3, 2026

The Santa Rosa Public Safety Subcommittee met on February 3, 2026, from 9:02 AM to 10:19 AM. The meeting included a presentation on a proposed regional police training center, annual reports from the police and fire departments, and public comment on ICE enforcement.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of October 28, 2025 Minutes: The subcommittee unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting with no adjustments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A speaker, on behalf of an SRJC student who could not attend, raised two questions regarding agendas 8.1 and 8.2: 1) whether the city has training procedures for responding to ICE activity, and 2) whether the city plans to cooperate with or aid ICE in its operations. The Chair noted that the Brown Act restricts discussion but stated that the full city council would address ICE-related items at its meeting the following week (starting around 3:00 PM).
• Janice Carman spoke in support of the regional training center concept, suggesting partnerships with other organizations (e.g., Sheriff's office, First Responder Resilience) to share costs and facilities.
• Janice Carman also praised the fire department report, expressing appreciation for new fire stations and the positive story of Firefighter Nathan Dilley.

Discussion Items

• Regional Police Training Center Presentation: Chief John Kriegan and Sergeant James Vickers presented the need for a dedicated training facility. Key points:

  • SRPD lacks a facility capable of modern law enforcement training (firearms, pursuit driving, defensive tactics, de-escalation, scenario-based training).
  • Currently uses 7+ external facilities, with 10–30% of training days spent driving. Distances range from 33.6 miles (Novato) to 57 miles (Fairfield).
  • Training costs have risen, and external facilities often cancel booked days, forcing schedule disruptions.
  • Example facilities: Fairfield PD (3 acres, $12M, revenue neutral); San Mateo Sheriff (8 acres, $11M, revenue positive); Fresno PD (80 acres, $15M, revenue negative due to pricing model).
  • Chief Kriegan noted that federal earmark applications require a site assessment and property acquisition. He has met with North Bay police chiefs, who expressed strong interest in using a regional center.
  • The estimated cost for an initial site feasibility assessment is around $50,000; full design could cost several hundred thousand dollars. The goal is to secure federal/state funding to avoid adding to the city's structural deficit.
  • Committee members expressed strong support for pursuing a feasibility study, with Council Member Fleming emphasizing the need for the site to be revenue positive and to avoid polarization. Council Member Stapp asked about past progress and confirmed no feasibility study had been done. Chair Krepke noted the potential for the center to support climate goals (reducing travel) and economic development (officers staying in Santa Rosa).

• Police Department 2025 Year-End Report: Chief Westrope presented key statistics:

  • 179,000 calls dispatched; 111,000 field responses, of which 11,000 (6% increase) were homeless-related.
  • 6,600 arrests; 20,000 traffic stops resulting in over 10,000 citations; 615 DUI offenders removed from streets.
  • 8 fatal collisions (plus one medical-related); 684 injury collisions investigated.
  • 184 reported shootings; 12 homicides (100% clearance rate for 2025, and 36 of 37 homicides solved since 2022).
  • 321 firearms seized (including 107 ghost guns), down from 390 the previous year.
  • 78 organized community engagement events; focus on foot patrols downtown and in parks.
  • Council Member Stapp asked why the report did not mention the Colombian theft gang and Asian theft ring; Chief Westrope acknowledged the work of the property crimes team and organized retail theft cases.

• Fire Department 2025 Year-End Report: Chief Scott Westrope provided an update:

  • Staffing: 174 FTEs, including positions funded by SAFER (12), Measure H (14), and PSAP (10.25). 7 new firefighter paramedics graduated in December 2025. 3 operational vacancies on hold.
  • Facilities: Fire Station 5 (Fountain Grove) opened November 2025; minor issues being resolved. Fire Station 8 (Roseland) broke ground November 2025, completion expected summer 2027. Fire Station 9 (southeast area) – evaluating purchase and retrofit of an existing building near Santa Rosa Avenue and Elsa Court. Fire Station 11 (Santa Rosa Junior College district) – new CIP account opened to fund a permanent station; concept plans exist but no construction yet.
  • Fleet: Apparatus costs have doubled in two years due to private equity consolidation; build times extended from 1 year to 4–5 years. The city has raised this with state/federal lobbyists.
  • Upcoming: Deployment analysis and community risk reduction plan to be presented at next subcommittee; surge ambulance project update expected at next meeting; ongoing WUI map adoption education.
  • Firefighter of the Year 2025: Nathan Dilley, honored for a heroic rescue at a vehicle fire where he entered a burning car to save a trapped occupant; the victim suffered only minor burns.
  • In response to Council Member Fleming's question, Chief Westrope confirmed that interfacility transport is still a long-term goal but not immediate. On the Measure H plan for Fire Station 12 and moving Engine 6 east, he stated that rising costs have delayed that project; the southeast station (Station 9) is the current priority.

Key Outcomes

• The subcommittee expressed unanimous support for advancing the regional police training center concept. A feasibility study (site assessment) will be pursued, with the intention of presenting a proposal to the full council.
• The subcommittee received and acknowledged the police and fire department annual reports.
• No formal votes were taken other than the consent calendar approval.
• The meeting adjourned at 10:19 AM.