Unfreezing frozen police positions with Measure U funds
Hemet
Summary
Hemet's police and fire numbers look better than last year — homicides down 40%, robberies down 26%, and response times improved — thanks to Measure U staffing and new fire apparatus. A cold case unit and drone-as-first-responder program were also launched.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 13, 2026.
Impact analysis
Measure U funding supported the largest police staffing in 15 years.
Every resident — faster fire and police response and falling crime rates.
None directly, though future budgets will need a permanent funding source for these positions.
Mentions & discussions (6)
City Council Meeting - Oct 13 2026
The city has about 85 officers but its own standard calls for roughly 111 for a population of 93,000. Unfreezing six officer positions plus a homeless outreach specialist costs about $1.3 million a year — and council members acknowledged new revenue is needed to sustain it.
One person found dead in Hemet house fire Saturday evening
Photos and story by Robert CarterOne person was found dead inside a burning home Saturday evening, Oct. 10, after firefighters responded to a structure fire across from Fruitvale Elementary School.Hemet Fire Department crews were dispatched at approximately 5:23 p.m. to a single-story reside
Measure U Citizen Oversight Committee Special Meeting - Sep 22 2026
Nine police department positions were frozen to help close a roughly $4 million city budget gap, and the committee weighed whether to restore them using Measure U sales tax dollars. Supporters argued the freeze risks losing officers and setting back staffing for years; the money is one-time and ongoing funding will still need to be found in future budgets.
Measure U Citizen Oversight Committee Meeting - Jun 11 2026
Hemet plans to spend about $17 million in Measure U sales tax money next year, split two-thirds police and one-third fire. Police want a $3.8 million one-time draw from reserves for vehicles, radios, dispatch upgrades, and cameras; fire wants $670,000. The oversight committee's report letter goes to the council June 23.
City Council Special Meeting (Strategic Planning Workshop) - Apr 22 2026
Hemet's police and fire numbers look better than last year — homicides down 40%, robberies down 26%, and response times improved — thanks to Measure U staffing and new fire apparatus. A cold case unit and drone-as-first-responder program were also launched.
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