According to statewide police department statistics, Ogden City has one of the highest call rates of any municipality in the state. In May alone, there were over 7,500 calls for service, contributing to a total of more than 36,000 calls so far this year. Our community must support those who serve us in times of need by advocating for increased salaries and benefits for them.

For context, a beginning firefighter’s annual salary currently is just above $48,000, or about $23 per hour, while a police officer starts at $56,250 or $26 per hour. The highest salary they can expect by the end of their careers is around $77,000 and $95,000, respectively, depending on their progression through the steps in their salary schedules. This may seem like too much to some or too little to others, but considering the work they undertake every shift, I firmly believe it is too little.

I have always respected and admired first responders who work tirelessly to keep our community safe. When I joined the Ogden City Council, I participated in the Citizen Police Academy hosted by the Ogden Police Department and numerous other entities across the county, where I learned the complexities of maintaining our safety. Our public safety teams handle dispatch, patrol, community policing, fire, emergency medical services and more. They don’t do their jobs for the money but because they care about our community.

Officers move from one case to another each day without having the opportunity to fully recover from one incident before addressing the next. Weber Area 911 dispatchers often work over 10-hour shifts and frequently do not know the outcomes of their interactions with callers, sometimes causing significant secondary trauma. Dispatchers are vital team members behind the scenes when answering calls from people during the worst moments in their lives.

Several strategies have been developed to help alleviate call volumes, such as enabling the reporting of less serious crimes online, implementing preventive initiatives like the Homeless Advocate program, and collaborating closely with the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT). These efforts support public safety by allowing them to allocate their time and efforts more effectively and efficiently. Both the OPD and OFD collaborate with community institutions, coalitions and schools to partner in creating solutions that address the root causes of challenges faced by our community, potentially reducing the need for police or emergency intervention in negative situations.

We can do more to improve the daily lives of the people keeping us safe. The most impactful action we can take today to support them is to provide a more reasonable wage, ensuring they can meet their basic needs without added stress as they dedicate themselves to protecting our community every day. I strongly support the proposed wage increases for our public safety employees.

Angela Choberka is an Ogden City Council member who represents District 1.