Public Safety Committee  — Charleston, WV
Date: 2026-03-16
Time: 17:30

CITY OF CHARLESTON
  10
 West Virginia
 Council Member – 10th WARD


Shawn Taylor Public Safety Committee, Chair
501 Virginia St. E Finance Committee
Charleston, WV 25301 Parking Committee
Telephone: 304-414-6019
E-mail: shawn@shawntaylor.com




TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Shawn Taylor, Chair
RE: Committee Meeting


 There will be a Committee meeting of Public Safety on March 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 AV Room #308

 AGENDA

 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
 1. 11-17-2025

 PUBLIC SPEAKERS
 1. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics. Register with a representative from
 the Clerk's Office no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the meeting at the stated meeting location.
 Time limits may be set by the Committee.

 TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS
 1. Charleston Police Department

 2. Charleston Fire Department



ST/ns

*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk

CITY OF CHARLESTON
  10
 West Virginia
 Council Member – 10th WARD


Shawn Taylor Public Safety Committee, Chair
501 Virginia St. E Finance Committee
Charleston, WV 25301 Parking Committee
Telephone: 304-414-6019
E-mail: shawn@shawntaylor.com




TO: Public Safety Committee
FROM: Shawn Taylor, Chair
RE: Committee Meeting


 There will be a Committee meeting of Public Safety on March 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM
 City Hall, 501 Virginia St. E.
 AV Room #308

 AGENDA

 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
 1. 11-17-2025

 PUBLIC SPEAKERS
 1. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics. Register with a representative from
 the Clerk's Office no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the meeting at the stated meeting location.
 Time limits may be set by the Committee.

 TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS
 1. Charleston Police Department

 2. Charleston Fire Department



ST/ns

*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk




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 MINUTES
 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

 6:00 P. M., NOVEMBER 17, 2025
 AV ROOM, CITY HALL


Shawn Taylor, Chair, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on
Public Safety to order at 6:00 p.m., November 17, 2025.

Present:
Shawn Taylor, Chair
Chuck Overstreet, Vice Chair
Caitlin Cook
Mary Beth Hoover
Beth Kerns


Absent:
Kathy Rubio
Bruce King



Other Councilmembers Present:
Frank Annie
Emmett Pepper
Joe Solomon
Harper Gardner
Chelsea Steelhammer
Joseph Jenkins




 1. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES –
Councilmember Hoover moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 7-21-
2025. Councilmember Cook seconded the motion. There was no objection, and the
minutes were approved.

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 2. To hear from public speakers on public safety related topics

None


 3. TO HEAR FROM PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED DEPARTMENTS -

 • Charleston Police Department

Police Chief Dempsey stated that their current number of 152 officers is mostly due to
retirement or resignations for various reasons. However, they are expecting to hire five
more within the next month. They are planning to meet with the architects to go over the
plans for the new Public Safety building. The Take-Home-Car Program is going very
well as it lowers maintenance costs for the City. Chief Dempsey added that they are
working to update their Policy Manual.

Councilmember Taylor asks how frequently they are staffed at full capacity. Chief
Dempsey replied that it has been several years, however, lower numbers such as these
are still manageable.

Councilmember Overstreet replied that 173 officers is considered fully staffed.


 • Charleston Fire Department

Assistant Fire Chief Dunbar stated that the renovations of Stations 2 and 4 have
recently begun. The recent bridge closure has required a few Units to be moved to
different Stations. The long-awaited fire boat is expected to be delivered in December.
Captain White introduced the Fire Department’s first Accelerant Detection Canine,
Pancake. Pancake is certified to detect over 300 accelerants used in fires and
explosions. Captain White added that in the last month, they have responded to 1,746
calls for service. They have had ten structure fires, with no fatalities. However, three
firefighters were injured. Pancake has detected nine different accelerants from the fires,
which have gone to the lab for further analysis.

Councilmember Cook asked if the bridge closure affect response time. Chief Dunbar
replied that it did not since they were able to adjust their response areas.

Councilmember Overstreet confirmed with Chief Dunbar that all planned renovations to
the stations are supposed to be completed within a year.



Councilmember Hoover motioned to adjourn the meeting.


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