Leadership

N.M. Public Safety May Split Police And Fire Services

March 26, 2013

Alamogordo Public Safety has personnel that serve as both police officers and firefighters, but that could change tonight as city commissioners vote on splitting the agency.

Source Alamogordo Daily News, N.M.

March 26--The second publication of an ordinance -- up for a vote Tuesday -- will, if passed, split the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety into separate police and fire departments.

The Alamogordo City Commission voted in February to move ahead with dissolving the city's public safety department and, if the measure on Tuesday's agenda is approved, the ordinance forming separate fire and police departments takes effect April 5.

Interim City Manager Bob Carter said previously that the actual change-over could happen as soon as July.

The as-of-yet unformed fire department would be comprised of current fire staff and augmented with a volunteer force, city officials said.

Carter said it would take several years for Alamogordo to have a totally professional fire department.

Currently, the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety functions as both police and fire responders in the city, with police officers acting as firefighters in the event of a blaze.

The city employs personnel who operate fire equipment and police officials have said police and firefighters tend to want to do one of the jobs, but not both.

ADPS Director Robert Duncan said the split will help the city recruit officers and firefighters. He added that it is rare in the United States for departments to mix the two.

City officials have said the proposed split will allow firefighters and police to be better trained, which will improve public safety.

The proposed change will also help the city lower

its insurance rates, officials said.

Alamogordo switched to the public safety system in 1967, according to city records.

Tuesday's measure, which will put the split into effect, is part of the commission's consent agenda. It means it might possibly be enacted along with other unrelated items in a single vote.

The commission meets Tuesday night at 7 p.m. inside City Hall.

Contact John Bear at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @johnbearwithme