Huntsville Department of Public Safety is Meeting Demands of a Growing City.

 

Huntsville, Alabama (March 13, 2008) One year ago, Mayor Loretta Spencer with the approval of the City Council made history when it created the Department of Public Safety. Director Rex Reynolds said, “We have made tremendous progress in addressing the personnel, technology and additional resources all due to the rapid growth and demand for services. Police Chief Henry Reyes, and Fire & Rescue Chief Danny Loggins continue to monitor the impact of their services to better implement new programs and redirect staffing, that has experienced an increase in calls for service”.

 

HPD Calls for service             2006    171,500         2007    201,616

HF&R Calls for service          2006      23,950         2007      24,967            

 

Reynolds said under Public Safety, the Fire Department has graduated 25 new Fire Fighters, and the Police Department has extended thirty-three job offers for the next Academy with a starting date of April 7, 2008.  Upon graduation, they will fill current vacancies and address the manpower needs in the West District and the Hampton Cove area due to growth. Finally, the new Public Safety Facility located on Clinton Street will be a joint facility and merge the West Precinct with the Fire Station in downtown Huntsville. Plans are underway to consolidate other Police Precincts and Fire Stations across the city.

 

According to Police Chief Henry Reyes, the Huntsville Police Department has had a measurable decrease in property crimes, rapes, and robberies. Additional Officers and Investigators on the streets have had a significant impact on the decrease in robberies and property crimes. The Department graduated 28 Police Cadets last August and another thirty-three are scheduled for an April class. “Our Precinct Commanders study crimes trends and target enforcement in the affected areas. I can’t say enough about their commitment and dedication, along with Community Watch groups who remain our eyes and ears on the streets.” Reyes noted however, that homicides and assaults did increase in 2007 from 2006. He said, “Sporadic violent crime continues to be difficult to deter, so we must focus on the underlying causes, such as drugs, gangs, alcohol abuse, and domestic violence. In that regard, our “Youth Gang Crime Prevention Program has been effective in targeting 7^th and 8^th graders. Despite initiatives such as this, Partnership for a Drug Free Community, and close working relationships with our local Boys and Girls Clubs and Scouting organizations, the Department has seen a slight increase of Juvenile arrests from 1,274 in 2006, to 1,430, a difference of 156.

 

          Homicides  Rapes   Robberies    Assaults      Burglaries       Larceny        Auto Theft      

2006    17              160      635            5,647               2,533               7,855         1,585

2007    22                96      586            5,776               2,283               7,282         1,166

 

Traffic Citations Up, Fatalities Down: The Traffic Crash Reduction Program was initiated to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries in accidents. Additional overtime monies appropriated by the Mayor, City Council and state funding has allowed the Department to write 32,933 citations in 2007, an increase of 2,364 tickets over 2006 stats of 30,569. As a result, our traffic fatalities were cut in half to 22 for 2007 compared with over 40 plus three years ago. Reyes commented, “The commitment by our Officers to the Traffic Crash Reduction Program is truly saving lives in Huntsville.”

 

According to Fire and Rescue Chief, Danny Loggins, the Department has made numerous changes to improve and enhance valuable services to the community. The Department recently purchased 10 new fire trucks, the largest single purchase of fire apparatus in the history of the Department.  Loggins said, “We recently had 25 Fire Fighters to graduate, which brings our force to 329 Fire personnel. At least 55% of them have obtained certification as Emergency Medical Technicians.” Loggins pointed out the significance of EMT’s because they currently respond with HEMSI and provide pre-hospital medical care and emergency services to citizens. They stabilize victims with life-threatening injuries at traffic crashes and provide basic life support to individuals suffering cardiac arrest. 

 

Chief Loggins also said they have added two additional positions, one for Deputy Chief of Operations and another for Policy and Procedures Accreditation Manager. Loggins said, “We are following in the steps of Huntsville Police and HEMSI, two public safety agencies now accredited in their perspective fields.” Loggins added that HF&R also received a $240,000 grant for air purification systems that will be installed in the 13 Fire Stations that do not currently have them.

 

Under Dr. Karen Hill Sheppard, DVM, Animal Services Chief, the Department continues to work to ensure that the public is educated on the benefits of animal welfare issues such as spaying and neutering, animal cruelty investigations, and the importance of rescuing and adopting a pet. We have initiated programs such as the new dog park, “Dog Spot” on Cleveland Avenue, a micro-chipping program for all adopted pets, and increased funding to the City’s low-income sterilization program, Fixin’ Alabama. Adoptions and Rescues increased by 10% while the total number of animals entering the facility remained stable.  Total revenues collected from the sales of pets’ licenses were $270, 255 for 2007. Total numbers of pets’ provided licenses were over 11,000. Hill Sheppard said, “Keeping our community clean and citizens’ safe is a top priority. Our Animal Services Officers issued 347 court summons for animal violations such as: failure to restrain and confine; harboring a dangerous animal; failure to maintain sanitation; and failure to have Rabies vaccination or city license are just a few of the issues we addressed.”

 

The Animal Services Officers were officially appointed and recognized as Cruelty Investigators and they are able to cite individuals using the powers of Alabama’s Pet Protection Act. Our Officers were able to rescue animals facing life threatening situations. “Humane education is essential to our Department’s success,” added Hill Sheppard. “We increase public awareness for our pets through radio, television, newspaper articles, and community events such as the Scarecrow Trail. We are proud of the work we accomplish for our community and the animals.”