Bethalto Police/Fire Leadership Give Updates On Equipment, Service Calls, And More

Village of Bethalto Council Meeting

BETHALTO – Leaders of the Bethalto Police and Fire Departments gave updates this week on their total calls for service, new equipment, pending grants, and more.

At the April 13, 2026 Village Board meeting, Fire Chief Jay Grant said his department has taken on 175 calls for help so far this year as they prepare to switch over to a new STARCOM radio dispatch system.

“All the radios are installed,” Grant said. “Dispatch is finishing up their consoles this week ... and then we’ll be ready to switch over sometime between May and June.”

Grant added the Fire Department is still waiting to hear back on the status of two grant funding applications, including a Small Equipment Program grant through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall.

Bethalto Fire Department personnel are attending two upcoming community events, including Community Night at Civic Memorial High School on April 28, 2026 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Career Day at the high school on April 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grant announced.

Finally, Grant noted a recent shift in staff. He said the department has lost two of its part-time personnel but gained three more volunteer firefighters last Monday, April 6, 2026.

Acting Police Chief Ryan Dugger said his department has taken on 595 total calls for service so far in 2026. He also reported the department’s newest squad cars are now in service, making the entire fleet operational.

“All the other squad cars have been repaired,” Dugger said. “As of right now, we have all the squad cars operating.”

Dugger added that Sergeant Jack Wofford recently received the “Be Like Blake” award through the Mustache March 4PD. The award is named in honor of Alton native and St. Louis County Police Officer Blake Snyder, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Oct. 16, 2016. As part of the award, Wofford will attend National Police Week in Washington, D.C. on May 11, 2026.

The acting chief also presented multiple Lifesaving Awards to members of his department for their efforts assisting an unresponsive elderly man, with more details available in this story on Riverbender.com.

A full recording of the April 13, 2026 Bethalto Village Board meeting is available at the top of this story or on Riverbender.com/video.

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