Public Safety Services - Research Paper Example

Public Safety Services Introduction The September 11, 2001 attack on USA demonstrated the significance of taking measures to prevent terrorism. The federal government created the Homeland Security Department which was charged with preparation and mitigation measures to various emergencies. Currently, in Farmington, the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Department is responsible for coordinating resources to be used in protecting the residents of the town and their property in case of a crisis and disaster. The Department runs prevention, preparedness, planning, response, recovery and public education programs aimed at mitigating the effects of a disaster or crisis. This paper will illustrate how the department will improve quality and quantity of public safety services. The Department launched the Fire Safety Trailer Program to educate the residents on fire safety and how to respond in various real life situations. The trailer used by the Fire Department contained a mobile home which was used as a simulation in educating the residents on life saving techniques. These include how to contact the emergency department as well the use of smoke detectors at home. Although this program was successful in educating the citizens on fire safety, there are various measures that the department can undertake to improve their delivery services on safety programs (Brunacini, 1996). Public Safety Services and Community Needs and Expectations The Department should provide public safety services that meet the changing expectation and needs of the society. The needs and expectations of the society are not static rather they evolve with time. In order to address the community’s evolving needs, the Department should identify the gap between the citizens needs on public safety and the Department’s ability to address these needs (Brunacini, 1996). The Department should carry out surveys in the community targeted at identifying the emerging trends and changes in the population that influence the public’s expectation on public safety. In addition, the Department should use the surveys to identify current and future disparities in public service delivery so as to address the evolving expectations of the population. The survey should be carried out by the department on a regular basis so as to identify relevant issues in society. The Department should prioritize the delivery of services to meet the identified gaps between the department and the society (Bradley, 2011). This involves changing the approaches used by the Department so as to address the dynamic needs of the society. Provision for Safe and Secure Communities Secondly, the Department should provide sufficient response capabilities throughout the town so as to respond to emergencies and crisis calls made to the department. This involves the evaluation of the community’s demand for public safety services and the capability of the Department to provide these services. It calls for the review of the allocation of the Department resources, for example, personnel, against appropriate date on a continuous basis. The data used to determine the allocation of resources should be reviewed on a regular basis. This will ensure that the Department effectively addresses the needs of the community. It also encompasses the evaluation of the Department resources, for example, equipments and vehicles used in service delivery. This will enable the department to maintain, update and acquire the necessary resources for effective service delivery (Bradley, 2011). In addition, the Department should ensure effective implementation of codes, regulations and laws. This is so as to maintain a secure community (Phipps, 2010). This also involves identifying critical public safety concerns in the town so as to increase enforcement, prosecution and remediation efforts. In order to provide uniform enforcement and responses, the Department should develop standard operation procedures to be implemented in all sections of the department. Therefore, the Department should educate the community on safety measures so as to reduce the criminal activities within the town. This will also reduce the community’s reliance on the public safety system. These education programs should be aimed at educating as well as empowering the residents on the various ways to prevent crime within the town (Phipps, 2010). The information should be readily available for the residents of the town. Ensuring Availability of Effective Emergency Measures The Department should also ensure the adequacy in the availability of emergency services. In cases of manmade or natural disaster, continuous emergency operations planning, collaboration and coordination of all departments should be carried out. This is so as to provide efficient and effective emergency services. In this respect, the Department is tasked with conducting collaborative and comprehensive review of the Emergency Operations Plan. The purpose of this is to ensure that all the components of public safety are coordinated. There should be also the coordination between private and public safety providers and resources; therefore, ensuring full preparation for a disaster (Bradley, 2011). In order to enhance the quality of service, the Department should ensure that emergency services are delivered effectively with a standardized manner. This is so as to ensure the provision of efficient and consistent response across all disciplines. The emergency training taught should comply with the American Red Cross and the National Incident Management System. This is so as to ensure standardized disaster and emergency response procedures. Emergency Operations Plan drills and exercises should be conducted and evaluated. This will serve to demonstrate proficiency in emergency response (Bradley, 2011). Funding sources and priorities for EOP resource requirements should be determined. It is also imperative to ensure efficient and timely communication alerting system so as to meet the standards of the Emergency Operations Plan. Further, the Department should strive to provide crucial public information so as to enhance emergency awareness and community response. Farmington public information officers should be trained and coordinated in order to relay a uniform public message. The residents should be provided with informational resources on individual emergency preparedness. This will serve to empower the citizens to come up with their own response plan. The best means for information dissemination should be determined and utilized. Local TV and radio channels can be used so as to reach the widest population segment (Bradley, 2011). Ensuring Effective and Consistent Delivery of Public Safety Services The Department should strive to ensure effective and consistent delivery of services pertaining to public safety. A coordinated Public Safety response system should be provided. This will maximize the ability of Farmington to work effectively together and respond to incidents. A Strategic Plan Implementation Team should be formulated. This is in order to monitor, guide and coordinate the Public Safety Plan performance. The department should develop a more uniform reporting system that will allow meaningful data analysis. It is imperative to identify required resources and prioritize initiatives so as to implement this novel Public Safety Plan (Aiden & Tilley, 2010). The Department should strive to maintain the necessary public safety facilities, equipments and infrastructure. This will enable the Department to respond to the dynamic and evolving public safety needs of Farmington Town. Identification of equipments that require standardization is crucial. Standardization will enhance organizational functionality and equipment interoperability. Purchasing efficiency of such equipments, facilities and infrastructure should be maximized. This can be done through public safety joint procurement (Aiden & Tilley, 2010). Finally, the Department should ensure a skilled and prepared volunteer and career workforce. This will enable better response to current and future Farmington public safety needs. The focus should be on continuous employee innovation and development. This will ensure that the staff is well prepared to issue effective public safety services in the town. Recognition and reward system should be utilized so as to retain quality personnel. Conclusion Farmington is a great place to live in, work, raise a family and also play. However, there exist challenges to public safety. So as to counter these challenges, there is a need for development of an apt public safety plan. The current plan should be refined so as to provide a strategic pathway for a safer town. There should be the provision of public safety that addresses the expectations of the society. The provision of safe and secure communities is imperative. Effective emergency services should be available in case of a disaster. Finally, public safety services should be effective and consistent. References Aiden, S., & Tilley, N. (2010). Improving problem-oriented policing: The need for a new model? Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 13, 79-101. Bradley, A. (2011). The Disaster Preparedness Handbook: A Guide for Families (2nd Edition). NY: Elsevier. Brunacini, A. (1996). Essentials of Fire Department Customer Service. Stillwater, OK: Fire Protection Publications. Phipps, A. (2010). Victims of crime: Policy and practice in criminal justice. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 13, 74-77. Read More