Public Safety plays a vital role in our community and I am very proud of our Police and Fire Departments.


Police Department

In the last four years, the Police Department has accelerated homeland security training.  They have trained all commanders to the National Incident Management System standards.  In 2004, I hosted a Mayoral Institute for Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism, bringing together 8 Mayors from our region.

The Lafayette Police Department completed a 5-year needs assessment plan.  We redesigned the L.P.D. website for better interaction with our citizens.  We stressed community-based policing and problem solving, not just reacting to crime.  We have started a bike patrol and foot patrol to address the needs and concerns in certain areas of our community.  We initiated the volunteers in policing program that brings dedicated citizens into the Police Department to complete tasks, which allows our officers to be out on the street.

When I took office, we had one K9 unit and now we have four.  All of our patrol officers have received street level drug interdiction training, and with our K9’s and our drug task force, they are making a difference.  In addition, our Street Crime Unit is making an important stride in addressing some of our toughest situations, and we have greatly expanded our warrant service efforts.

To protect our children, the Lafayette Police Department developed a strong relationship with the Computer Science Department at Purdue University.  Their assistance in working with computer crimes has led to the arrest of persons preying on our young people and they have been instrumental in expanding the Department’s knowledge of computer forensics. 

In these times, addressing issues of public safety requires a coordinated, sustainable effort that is community based and has community support, and we are doing just that.  For 2007, we are undertaking a Weed and Seed Initiative.  Weed and Seed takes a two-pronged approach to crime control and prevention: Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts cooperate in “weeding out” criminal offenders, and nonprofit and educational agencies work together to “seed” the community with crime-preventive and beneficial programs and services. We are finding new ways now to better address safety concerns and create new partnerships to help deter criminal behavior.


Fire Department

It has been an exciting three and one-half years for our Fire Department.  We have created a 16-member Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team, greatly enhancing our response time to potential drowning incidents.  We have increased our Tactical Response Unit from 16 members to 21 members.  In 2004, we had six state certified technicians in hazardous materials and today we have 45.

We have worked to ensure that our firefighters have the very best equipment.  All frontline apparatus now have thermal imagining cameras.  We also replaced all of our self-contained breathing apparatus.  The department also acquired and equipped a 32-foot Hazmat trailer.  The Lafayette Fire Department was very successful in working with FEMA, Fairfield Township, and TEMA to secure grants that paid for a significant portion of this equipment.

Our firefighters are also now equipped with the state of the art M.S.A. Clear Command Helmet Communications System.  In 2006, the Lafayette Fire Department became the first department in Indiana to deploy the M.S.A. Accountability System, which is an electronic safety system that monitors our firefighters’ air supply, air temperature, and movement.  Earlier this year, we took possession of a Quint fire truck, paid for by Fairfield Township. This new truck is an important addition to our fleet.

This upgraded equipment, along with our first class training, helps ensure the safety of our firefighters and allows them to respond more effectively to save lives and property. These improvements and others were recognized by the ISo who improved the City’s rating from a 5 to a 3 putting us in the top 1% in Indiana and top 5% in the United States.

This is a tremendous plus for our community.