Public Safety

Heidi listened, Heidi acted

Heidi promised to improve public safety, and she has delivered on that promise with every budget since she was elected. As Mayor, Heidi has:

• Added 14 new police officers and a crime analyst and increased funding to improve the administration of the Police Department’s evidence room
• Created the Community Protection Division and added 6 new Community Protection Officers to improve enforcement of quality-of-life and environmental ordinances
• Added 2 full-time attorneys and an investigator to the County Attorney's office to improve ordinance enforcement
• Funded a volunteer coordinator for Project Safe, a non-profit serving victims of domestic violence
• Added 20 new 911 emergency call boxes to our parks and provided funds to improve safety patrolling of the Greenway
• Increased the budget for the Superior Courts to improve court administration and move offenders more efficiently through the system
• Increased the budget for the Municipal Court to create a Pre-Trial Intervention probation program
• Increased funding for the Sidewalk Improvement Program to enhance pedestrian safety
• Provided funds to revive the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program to calm traffic along and improve the safety of our neighborhood streets

The single most important function of government is to provide a safe environment - first and foremost to its residents and secondly to its visitors. Public safety encompasses our police and fire protection resources, as well as the measures we take to ensure healthy neighborhoods and a healthy environment for our citizens.

Our police and fire departments are critical to maintaining a safe community. Individuals who choose to serve within the public safety arena need assurances that their dedication and commitment are valued. As the true heroes of every community we must ensure that they are well compensated and well educated. Providing the necessary tools and resources to perform their duties at maximum efficiency and effectiveness should be the foundation of that commitment.

I work closely with all our public safety departments to understand and address their needs. Regular and ongoing conversations with police officers on patrol as in addition to those with the Chief of Police, Sheriff, Fire Chief, and our judges provide me with valuable insights necessary to understanding the needs of these departments.

By riding with police officers on patrol, I gain a first-hand look at the challenges they face. A strong rapport with the men and women of our public safety departments gives me unique insights that help shape my response to their concerns.

I am proud to have led the efforts that resulted in the creation of the Community Protection Division (CPD) whose mission is to ensure that our neighborhoods continue to offer the quality of life residents expect from their single most important investment – their homes. In the 2002 election year, citizens made it abundantly clear that enforcement of existing quality-of-life ordinances was at the top of their list of community concerns. The CPD was created in response to the concerns and issues that our residents raised. Your call for action was heard and I acted!

Pedestrian safety and traffic calming are also important aspects of a safe community. I have listened to and acted upon the stated desires of our citizens for improvements in sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks and other pedestrian safety enhancements, as well as traffic calming that make our streets safer for all our citizens. Increased budget allotments for these areas of safety are a direct result of my shared concern for pedestrian safety.

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