Many local government managers have considered the possibility of consolidating police and fire services. The public safety concept, where some or all personnel are dual trained and respond to both police and fire calls, although attractive from an efficiency standpoint, is one of the most politically controversial ideas a manager can champion.

Studies have shown that  local governments are spending over 60 percent of their operating budgets on police and fire services. Facing the “new normal” with little likelihood  that revenues will increase in the foreseeable future, local governments are revisiting the idea of merging police and fire services into one department and training public safety officers who can provide patrol and respond to fires.

This workshop will provide attendees with tools for gauging the benefits of a police/fire merger.

Attendees will learn:

• The history of the public safety concept
• The issues that surround a merger
• The key decisions to be made
• How to assess and overcome environmental barriers to a consolidation
• What opposition to expect from a proposal to consolidate and the consequences to the manager
• The impact on costs and performance of a merger
• Case studies of successful and unsuccessful merger efforts
• How long it takes and what techniques to use to implement a merger.

The instructors will be available to meet with attendees to provide a review of the specific issues in their communities. After completion of this workshop, attendees will have a better understanding of the risks and benefits of a merger.

For more information, contact Thomas Wieczorek, director of the Center for Public Safety Management at 616-813-3782 or twieczorek@icma.org or Leonard Matarese, director of Research and Program Management for the Center for Public Safety Management at 716-969-1360 or lmatarese@icma.org