Fast response, high-tech tools and innovative programs mark 2006 public safety record

Dearborn’s public safety professionals helped keep our city safe in 2006 with fast response times, the use of high-tech tools and the implementation of innovative programs.

“Dearborn’s dedicated police officers, firefighters and other personnel involved in public safety achieved great things last year,” said Mayor Pro Tem John B. O’Reilly, Jr. “The most important thing that makes Dearborn a great place is that we’re a safe city, where crime is fought aggressively, and where you know that fast, effective emergency help is there when you need it.”

Here are some public safety achievements made during the past year.

Despite a three percent increase in calls for assistance, the police department’s average response time was four minutes – less for emergencies involving serious violent crimes. The Fire Department’s response time to calls for assistance remained under four minutes.

Police Patrol Division officers arrested over 1,300 suspected felons.

The Fire Department participated in numerous and extensive training exercises, such as: a vehicle extrication skills competition; a decontamination drill at Oakwood Hopsital after a simulated hazardous material incident; a simulated large scale mass casualty incident at Fairlane Town Center; and training with DTE regarding issues related to utilities during emergencies.
Auto theft dropped by more than three percent last year, thanks in part to the efforts of the police officers in the department’s Auto Theft Unit (ATU), which arrested almost 100 suspected car thieves and recovered more than 135 vehicles totaling almost $1.3 million in value.

Public safety officials trained over 100 residents to become part of Dearborn’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The volunteers will provide assistance during public safety emergencies such as a tornado.

The police department used federal grant funds to acquire a sophisticated, hazardous duty mobile robot worth $200,000 that helps officers safely deal with a variety of potentially hazardous situations, such as suspected explosive devices. Other grants obtained by the police department paid for things like radio and computer upgrades and polygraph equipment.

High-tech thermal imaging cameras – purchased via grant funding – were deployed on all fire engines. The cameras allow firefighters to “see” through smoke filled buildings, allowing quicker and safer rescues of people who might be trapped inside.

Police officers began field reporting from patrol cars via the use of mobile computers. Through this system, officers are filing reports from their vehicles, instead of having to return to police headquarters, thus spending more time on the street, and allowing instant review of their reports by supervisors.
Other police technology enhancements allow crime data to be integrated with the city’s geographical information system (GIS) – allowing officers to create maps that can help identify crime patterns.

Another enhancement – achieved with the help of the City’s Management of Information Systems Department – is that 911 dispatchers can now use GIS to create visual maps of the location of callers needing emergency help.

Police anti-drug enforcement efforts achieved success. For example, Narcotics Bureau officers handling cases involving drug activities exclusively within Dearborn seized $116,420 in suspected drug cash, 45 pounds of marijuana and more than 600 Ecstasy tablets.

Dearborn officers working with the Drug Enforcement Administration as part of multi-community investigations led to Dearborn receiving more than $538,000 for anti-drug efforts.

Dearborn officers working with the FBI in a multi-city task force helped seize almost 10,300 pounds of marijuana, 39 kilos of cocaine, and more than $3.3 million – of which Dearborn received over $230,000 for its anti-drug efforts.
Inspectors from the Building & Safety Department checked homes and businesses to ensure they meet basic safety standards. More than 1,300 Certificates of Occupancy for residential projects were issued, and more than 400 for commercial projects. More than 20,000 inspections were performed.
The successful “Cop on the Porch” program continued. The program puts an officer with a laser speed gun at the homes of residents concerned about speeders in their neighborhoods.

The Department of Public Works expanded the use of salt and brine spreading machines, which salts the streets for safer winter driving more efficiently than ever before – and for less money due to savings in fuel and labor costs, and reduction in salt use.

The Police Motor Carrier Unit hosted a smuggling interdiction seminar that was attended by officers from across Michigan and from Canada. Within two weeks of attending the seminar, officers of the Taylor Police Department seized 160 pounds of marijuana and arrested a person suspected of trafficking drugs.
Police officers continued to be highly visible in City neighborhoods, sometimes parking their patrol cars and walking their beats. Officers also keep an eye out for neighborhood nuisances, such as litter. They identified more than 1,000 problems, which were reported to other City departments for action.
The police department’s Community Policing Office on Warren Avenue, and its T.I.T.A.N. school resource officers program, help officers to increase their participation in the Dearborn community.

The members of Reserve Police Officers Unit provided over 3,600 hours of service, including at special events and through other activities such as conducting house checks requested by vacationing homeowners.

Dearborn Police Explorer Post members – young people interested in learning about careers in law enforcement – gave more than 8,100 hours of service. Post members also won honors in a national Explorers competition, taking first place in the category testing hostage negotiation skills.