WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. September 25, 2003: Mayor Joseph Delfino praised his Public Safety Department today for lowering the city crime rate 13.8% in one year, making the city safer, and reorganizing to meet future city threats and concerns, including terrorism.
Mayor Delfino Salutes the Fire and Police Bureaus: The Mayor said, “I want to commend…commend the personnel of both bureaus for doing an exceptional job…the visitors who come here (to our city) come here because they feel safe here.” Photo by WPCNR News
The occasion was a news conference in which the Public Safety Department released its Annual Report on operations and took the opportunity to display equipment the police and fire departments are now using to police better and prevent and fight fires efficiently.
Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub said the new department’s unified approach where police and fire bureaus work cooperatively and share a united “incident command” had significantly improved relations between the two bureaus and the department ability to handle incidents. Photo by WPCNR News
The Mayor detailed how he challenged Dr. Straub to address Speeding, Quality of Life violations, Unsafe Housing, Community Policing and Domestic Preparedness.
He noted that in the 2002-03 fiscal year, police resources were redeployed to increase patrols 26.4% resulting in arrests increasing 7.8%, with Quality of Life arrests increased 35.8%, reducing overall crime 13.8%. The Mayor noted the city had a low crime rate to begin the year, and to reduce it that much was “remarkable.” A chart displayed reported that narcotics, gambling and prostitution arrests by the Vice Unit quadrupled over the past fiscal year.
NEW EQUIPMENT: White Plains Police Officer Pat Riley demonstrates a Heat Sensor which WPPD have used to capture burglary suspects hiding along the railway tracks recently. He said the device is also used by the Fire Bureau to locate persons in smoke-filled situations. Deputy Fire Chief Charles Reidy said the heat sensor device was used most recently in the Bet Am Shalom fire to locate quickly the extent of the hidden fire, leading to the saving of the temple’s sanctuary. Photo by WPCNR News.
HEAT SENSOR PICKS UP BODY HEAT, shows image of human body on a screen for police or fire rescuers to locate persons hiding or trapped in an emergency situation. Photo by WPCNR News.
Domestic Preparedness.
Commissioner Straub reported that in the past year both police and fire personnel had been trained in responding to Chemical or Biological attacks, in addition to police receiving training in handling radiological threats in Nevada. He said the Fire Bureau had received hazardous materials training, with the police department purchasing 36 bio-suits, one of which was on display, to enable police personnel to enter biologically infected areas.
In the future he said there are plans to conduct joint exercises with the Naval War College, and to purchase a Fire Rescue & Police Emergency Services Truck capable of replenishing oxygen tanks on the scene as well other advantages.
BULLETPROOF VESTS capable of stopping automatic weapon fire, rifle bullets and stabbing attempts are now standard for the new WPPD 26-person Special Response Team. Detective Ed Fisher, center, and Police officer Riley are about to demonstrate the shield for Councilman Glen Hockley, left. Photo by WPCNR News
Safe Streets
Mayor Delfino told the media the Operation Safe Streets program began in April 2003 had issued 17,298 summons an increase of 31%. Of that total speeding summonses were up 35%, seatbelt summons up 75%, and cellphone summonses up 132%.
Fires Inspections up.
The city’s chief executive reported that the Fire Bureau had dramatically increased its inspections of city buildings and dwellings. He said on-site inspections were up 15.8%, follow-up inspections up 18.2%, and there were 10.3% more violations discovered. Building site plan reviews went up 29.3%, public education talks rose 13.5% and voluntary consultations sought by the community, businesses, homes, restaurants increased 800%.
NEW PERSONNEL DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM soon to be online in Fire Department: Deputy Fire Chief, Charles Reidy explained the new identification system for keeping track of fire fighters on the scene of a fire and where each unit and man is on a fire scene. The system, much like a baseball magnet lineup board, enables the on-the-scene commander to know where his units are assigned in a fire scene, and to account for any missing men and women immediately. The system may begin operating this week. The idea came from Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Charles Jennings, who came across the concept while doing a consulting assignment with the city of Seattle, Washington. Photo by WPCNR News
Mayor Delfino said that restaurants in the city, “all places of public assembly,” had cooperated 100% with the Fire Prevention Bureau program requiring a fire and safety evacuation plan.
The Mayor cited over significant changes in the department which included appointment of a Community Affairs officer, a Middle School Resource Officer, and the establishment of a Safe Housing Task Force.
