NCJ Number
61630
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 24-27
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS COMBINING THE WORK OF POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS, ARE DISCUSSED AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH A PROGRAM IN TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
PROGRAMS USING PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS (PSO'S) WHO PERFORM BOTH FIREFIGHTING AND POLICE DUTIES ARE INCREASING IN POPULARITY DUE TO THE GROWING NEED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES. FOUR TYPES OF PSO PROGRAMS INCLUDE: (1) CONSOLIDATED, OR ONE INTEGRATED SERVICE IN WHICH ALL PERSONNEL ARE PSO'S; (2) PARTIAL CONSOLIDATION, OR SEPARATE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTING SERVICES WITH PSO UNITS; (3) SELECTED AREA, OR SEPARATE SERVICES WITH PSO UNITS FOR CERTAIN GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS; (4) FUNCTIONAL, RELEGATION OF DUTIES TRADITIONALLY PERFORMED BY ONE SERVICE, TO THE OTHER; (5) NOMINAL, OR GROUPING RELATED PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES TOGETHER. TEXARKANA, POPULATION 35,000, CHOSE SELECTED AREA AND PARTIAL CONSOLIDATION TYPES. ADMINISTRATION OF BOTH FIRE AND POLICE WAS RELEGATED TO A SINGLE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC, SAFETY, WITH A DEPUTY FOR EACH SERVICE. A CIVIL SERVICE GOVERNS ALL COMMISSIONED PERSONNEL, AND HIGHER STANDARDS WERE SET FOR PROSPECTIVE PSO OFFICERS. TRAINING CONSISTS OF 6 WEEKS EACH OF FIRE AND POLICE AND 4 WEEKS OF PSO TEAM TRAINING. INITIAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE SPECIAL UNITS WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT SEVERAL OTHER CITY DISTRICTS REQUESTED THEM. LOW FIRE RATES IN TEXARKANA LED TO MORE POLICE, FORMERLY FIREMEN, ON PATROL, CONTRIBUTING TO A DECREASE IN CRIME; A LARGER LABOR POOL FOR FIRES HAS DECREASED PROPERTY LOSS AND FIRE INSURANCE RATES. A PSO PROGRAM IS DESIGNED NOT TO REDUCE BUDGETS, BUT TO USE FUNDS BETTER. PRINCIPALS TO BE FOLLOWED FOR PSO PROGRAM SUCCESS INCLUDE, CONSOLIDATION OF COMMUNICATION AND DISPATCHING, HIGH PSO PERSONNEL TRAINING, STANDARDS, AND REMUNERATION, SUFFICIENT FUNDING, AND ADMINISTRATION INTEGRATION. (PAP)