Pat on the Issues: Emergency Services
Emergency services are often taken for granted, but they are not automatic. It is imperative that police, fire, and paramedic services are able to respond to our calls quickly and effectively. They need to be there when we need them – no excuses.
As your council representative, I will work hard to ensure that we provide the response times so critical to saving lives, keeping our streets safe and our quality of life high. Current police staffing is well short of what we should have for a city our size. I will focus on increasing the number of men and women in our police department. I will also advocate for innovative approaches to staffing that enable trained police officers to spend more time on the streets and less time in the office.
But there is more to it than feet on the street. We need an environment where we are capable of helping ourselves. I vow to help us help ourselves by:
Sponsoring first aid and CPR training in our community, at locations and times that are convenient for you.- Encouraging the adoption of Neighborhood Watch programs.
- Keeping gangs out of our city through a collaborative effort including police, corrections, probation, youth services, neighborhood groups, and citizens.
The safety of our community has a huge influence on our quality of life. Working together, we can make a positive difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.