Time to review your public safety plans because June is public safety month!

Since the recession local governments have been forced to change how they are doing business and adapt to new fiscal and structural challenges along the way. One area that has seen cut backs has been the departments that handle public safety issues. However, over the past couple years ICMA and the Center for Public Safety Management have worked with over 100 local governments of all shapes and have been consistently able to find savings and new ways to cut back for these local governments. In fact after the reductions and additional cost cutting department chiefs were hard pressed to think of services they have cut or that are of a lesser quality now that they are spending less.

Even if your local government’s budgets are on track you may still want to look more closely at your police and fire departments to make sure they are as cost effective and efficient as possible. Many departments were structured years ago and with advances in technology and increases in EMS, Emergency Medical Services, usage the structure of the departments is no longer matching the true needs of the community.

Browse through the resources below to learn how to create cost effective and high efficient public safety departments that will save your local government money and help the community!

• “Is the Current Model for Public Safety Service Delivery Sustainable?” This article shows new ways to deliver public safety services at a lower cost to local governments.
• “Understanding the Public Safety Concept” this article explains the mergers of police and fire departments as well as forecasting the outcomes of such mergers.
• The Public Safety Topic page has all of the documents, articles, blogs, questions and more related to public safety on the Knowledge Network.
• The Center for Public Safety Management is a team dedicated to improving local government performance in public safety through identification, promotion, and application of leading best practices. 

Best, 

Robin Saywitz 

ICMA Knowledge Network Intern 

rsaywitz@icma.org