Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Mayor Buscher — in the annual “State of Greater Springfield” event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce — used some of her time to praise what she calls a group of heroes.

Those heroes are the men and women of the Springfield Fire Department, who she claims are “above average.”

“When we go for a 911 call at Springfield Fire because someone who is in cardiac arrest and they need help, these people that need help…33% of them survive,” said Buscher.  “The national average for that call is 12% survival rate.  That is what your trained firefighters are doing for you.”

That’s a part of more than 16,000 EMA calls last year.

What’s more, Buscher says Springfield Fire has been re-certified as a “Class-One” department, which she claims means homeowner’s insurance.

Despite some high-profile issues in the last year, Buscher says the city’s crime rate is continuing a decline.  She says crime was down seven percent in 2025 compared to last year.  And a part of that is believed to be recovering weapons.

“(Springfield Police is) a very busy department, and we need them,” said Buscher.  “They recovered 431 illegal guns off the street (in 2025).  There’s only 365 days a year.  Every day they took at least one illegal gun off the street.  That’s extremely important.”

In reality, there were a number of days where a number of guns were recovered in single investigations.  So, the gun recovery rate is one per day, on average.

Buscher also praised public works for the recent work done on downtown and other roads, CWLP, and efforts with Heartland Housed to reduce homelessness and help those who may still live on the street.

All in all, Buscher calls everything “momentum you can see.”