Public Safety
The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) is led by Chief of Police Michael J. Szczerba and is authorized to deploy up to 289 officers in motor vehicles, on foot, and on bicycle in order to protect and serve the citizens of the city. It recently joined the ranks of 350 other departments nationwide, and only nine other statewide, in achieving operations accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Wilmington Fire Department (WFD) is led by Chief Willie Patrick Jr. and maintains four engine companies, two ladder companies, and a marine fire fighting force. In recent years, the department has promoted a ride along program which gives city residents an opportunity to evaluate possible career decisions. In addition, department officials have enacted a program that requires firefighters to be involved with community associations on a regular basis. Wilmington is the only municipality in Delaware with a career fire department.
On July 1, 2009, due to the national financial crisis and projected city budget shortfall, the department laid off firefighters for the first time in city history. The lay off reduced the department's manpower pool from 173 to 165 uniformed personnel. The eight laid off firefighters were able to return to work as members are the department retired with the final firefighter was recalled to duty after 13 months. In addition to the lay offs, the department initiated a rolling by-pass of three engine companies (Engine 1, Engine 4, and Engine 6). After further budget shortfalls and city cuts the department was once again required to cut costs. This time the city's only heavy rescue company, Rescue 1, was eliminated. However all personnel remained employed. On January 1, 2011 Rescue 1 was taken out of service and personnel transferred. The department converted two engine companies into squad companies. Engine 1 was re-designated as Squad 1 with the old Rescue 1 being re-designated as Special Operations 1 (SO1). Engine 3 was re-designated as Squad 3 and the old reserve Rescue 101 was re-designated Special Operations 3 (SO3). Even with the elimination of Rescue 1, the Department continued the rolling by-pass of an engine company. The rolling by-pass now effected Engine 4, Engine 5, and Engine 6. The Department found some financial relief in 2011 when it was awarded the federal SAFER grant. This enabled the department to fund 13 positions returning the department's staffing to 173 uniformed personnel. Even with the federal grant the department has stated that the need to continue the rolling by-pass should dramatically decrease however it would not eliminate the need.
Read more about this topic: Wilmington, Delaware
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