To the Editor,

Public safety has always been one of the most important responsibilities of local government. As Maricopa continues to grow, the question is not whether our community is safe today. The question is whether we are making the right decisions now to ensure Maricopa remains safe tomorrow.

Following the recent Public Safety Forum, there has been discussion about the tone of certain questions and whether comments about staffing could create the impression that residents are not safe. I want to be very clear: that is not the message we intended to send, and it is not what we believe.

The men and women serving in Maricopa’s police and fire departments work hard every day to protect this community. They respond professionally, compassionately, and effectively under difficult conditions. Our residents are served by dedicated public safety professionals who take great pride in their work.

At the same time, responsible public safety planning requires honest conversations about growth, staffing, response times, infrastructure, and future needs. These conversations are not meant to create fear. They are meant to prevent problems before they become emergencies.

Maricopa is on the right path. The addition of ambulances, the continued build-out of hazardous materials capabilities, and the pre-hiring for the future Station 3 are all significant and positive steps. These decisions show that the city recognizes the demands created by growth and is taking meaningful action.

Today, six ambulances are on order, along with four fire engines — including future apparatus for Stations 573 and 576 — and one ladder truck. Department staffing has also continued to expand. Last year alone, the department grew to approximately 85 firefighters, with 12 additional positions approved for next fiscal year and six more the following year as part of the ambulance service expansion, totaling 30 new positions dedicated to EMS transport operations. In addition, approximately 30 more positions have been tentatively planned for the future opening of Stations 573 and 576.

Station 573 is currently slated to open in 2029, while Station 576 remains tied to the collection of development fees associated with the South Maricopa Fire Association growth area. Beyond frontline staffing, the department has also expanded administrative and support positions, including investments in Health and Safety, Training, RTO development, and EMS coordination — all without removing personnel from frontline operations.

The city’s investment reflects this commitment. The tentative FY27 budget includes approximately $3.5 million in additional operating investments for the Fire Department, and since FY23, the department budget has increased by approximately 64%.

We are grateful for that progress.

But part of appreciating progress is also being honest about how we got here.

For many years, Maricopa experienced incredible growth while public safety needs struggled to keep pace. Firefighters and police officers saw the demand increasing. We saw the call volume, the longer travel distances, the growth in dense housing, the expansion of industrial areas, and the need for more specialized response capabilities. For years, many of those concerns were met with delay, hesitation, or simply being told “no.”

That history matters because it explains why public safety employees continue to speak up today. Not because we believe the city is failing, and not because we believe residents are unsafe, but because we know how quickly growth can outpace infrastructure if planning does not stay ahead of the curve.

That is why our members funded an independent staffing study. That study was not created to criticize the city or undermine leadership. It was created to provide another data source for decision-makers. It identifies current and future needs, highlights potential weaknesses, and gives elected officials and city staff another tool as they make difficult budget and policy decisions.

We have shared our member-funded staffing study with council candidates, current council members, and city staff. We have also had conversations around the Matrix study and how both documents can help inform the city’s path forward. No study should be viewed in isolation, and no single report has all the answers. But when multiple sources of information point toward the same challenges, they should be taken seriously.

The purpose of these conversations is not “phony” support for public safety. It is not political theater. It is responsible planning rooted in data, frontline experience, and the real challenges that come with a rapidly growing city.

That same principle is how we approached endorsements.

Our endorsement of Councilmember AnnaMarie Knorr was not based on politics, popularity, or personal relationships. It was based on her willingness to listen, ask thoughtful questions, engage directly with public safety issues, and take the time to understand the challenges facing our members and the community.

An endorsement should mean something to the public. It should not be a blank check or a political favor. It should tell voters that the people closest to the work believe a candidate has taken the time to understand the issues, respects frontline input, and is willing to make informed decisions on behalf of the community.

For public safety employees, endorsements are about trust and accountability. They are about identifying leaders who are willing to have difficult conversations, review the data, and recognize that public safety decisions have real consequences for residents, employees, and the future of the city.

Supporting Councilmember Knorr does not mean we expect agreement on every issue. It means we believe she has demonstrated a serious commitment to listening, learning, and engaging in the work necessary to help Maricopa grow responsibly.

Public safety is often one of the largest portions of a city budget because it is personnel-driven, resource-intensive, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fire stations, police patrols, ambulances, training, equipment, dispatching, specialty teams, and emergency response systems all require sustained investment. A large public safety budget does not automatically mean the system is fully staffed for future growth. It means the responsibility is significant.

The goal should not be to wait until residents feel the impacts of delayed response times, overloaded crews, or insufficient resources. The goal should be to use data, frontline experience, and thoughtful planning to stay ahead of those problems.

That was the intent of the Public Safety Forum.

The forum was our first attempt at creating a space where candidates could speak directly to public safety issues. Like any first effort, we learned lessons and saw areas where the format can improve. But overall, we believe it was an important event for our members and the community. It gave candidates an opportunity to discuss growth, staffing, infrastructure, mental health, employee retention, and what a safe Maricopa should look like over the next five to ten years.

Those are fair questions. They are also necessary questions.

Public safety employees are not asking the city to ignore other priorities. Parks, roads, economic development, utilities, housing, and quality-of-life investments all matter. A growing city must balance many needs. But public safety is foundational. Without a strong public safety system, every other part of community growth becomes more vulnerable.

We believe Maricopa can be proud of the direction it is heading while still acknowledging that more work remains. Those two ideas are not in conflict.

We can support our elected officials and still ask hard questions.

We can appreciate progress and still advocate for staffing, resources, and long-term planning.

We can say the community is safe today while also warning that continued growth requires continued investment.

The men and women of public safety want to be partners in that process. We are not interested in creating division. We are interested in making sure the people closest to the work have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect emergency response and community safety.

Maricopa is growing quickly. That growth brings opportunity, but it also brings responsibility. The decisions made today will shape what public safety looks like for years to come.

Our message is simple: Maricopa is on the right path, and now is the time to stay committed to that path. We owe it to our residents, our public safety professionals, and the future of this city to plan with honesty, invest with purpose, and work together to keep Maricopa safe as it continues to grow.

The views expressed in this article are my own and are offered in my personal capacity as a member involved in public safety discussions. This article does not speak on behalf of the City of Maricopa, the Maricopa Fire/Medical Department, or any city official.

Joshua Eads
President, Professional Firefighters of Maricopa Local 4561