Pueblo approves funding for seven additional officers

Seven more officers will be joining the ranks at the Pueblo Police Department.

Pueblo City Council finalized its 2015-2016 budget Monday night, which includes spending $500,000 from the city’s emergency fund to pay for those new positions.

Police Chief Luis Velez told KRDO NewsChannel 13 in addition to the seven positions, he could use 15 to 20 more officers to reduce response times and to handle citizens’ complaints.

“Preferably I would like even more officers, but I realize that police officers are expensive commodities and to be able to get seven into the budget this year is great,” Velez said.

The funding for new officers comes at a critical time for the city.

“I think this summer has been a volatile summer,” Velez said. “There has been quite a number of shootings throughout the summer that even now are continuing into November.”

Velez said those seven officers won’t start patrolling on their own until the end of next year. They have to go through nine to 10 months of training. But some who live in Pueblo are tired of waiting for change.

“We’re actually headed out to Idaho because, partially, because we don’t feel safe in the area. We don’t feel comfortable,” said Taylor Goodwin, who lives in Pueblo.

“It seems like we’re hearing sirens all the time,” said Avril Goodwin, who also resides in Pueblo.

Velez said an academy for the new officers will likely start in February, which means those new officers will hit the streets alone in November or December of 2016.