(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade hosted his May briefing on Thursday, May 15, in which he focused on public safety and announced the City’s police department had hit a milestone for the first time.

Mayor Mobolade stated that for the first time, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) had almost 800 officers, with a retirement bringing it down to 799. Compared to cities with similar populations, such as Albuquerque, New Mexico, with 1140 officers and Mesa, Arizona, with 979 officers, Colorado Springs had fewer officers, according to Mayor Mobolade.

The mayor also noted that the City has hired 222 new officers. Police Chief Adrian Vasquez did mention that CSPD was working on increasing recruitment and now has year-long rolling applications for the police academy.

Mayor Mobolade also celebrated another milestone, as the Communications Center is at its “closest” to full staffing since 2016. The center has also added a Real-Time Crime Center at the same location.

As for crime and crashes, Mobolade mentioned that crashes were down by 10% and injury incidents were down by 29%. Traffic tickets, however, were up by 12% this year.

“The biggest reason is you, the drivers of Colorado Springs,” Mobolade said. “You are making smarter, safer choices behind the wheel, and it is saving lives. Now, let me be clear, police officers would rather educate and engage and encourage voluntary compliance than write tickets. We’re not here to punish. We’re here to protect.”

The Colorado Springs Mayor further encouraged the community to also take initiative to prevent fires and protect homes, with May being Wildfire Awareness Month.

“Everything that I’ve shared with you today, from staffing, innovation, enforcement, and preparedness, is part of this bigger vision of making Colorado Springs one of the safest cities in the country,” said Mayor Mobolade.