CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Some police officers in northeastern Iowa are being cross-trained as firefighters to expand public safety coverage. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that all Cedar Falls police officers hired after July 1, 2016, are required to cross-train in firefighting to become public safety officers. But the city will still have a force of career firefighters and police officers.

Public safety officials say the cross-training is so the city can always have full-time firefighters available and to increase efficiency. Public safety officers arrive early and suppress fires until the full-time crew arrives. The city hasn’t hired any full-time firefighters since July 1, 2016. Critics question the cutback on full-time firefighter staffing, which has yet to be defined.