With the current opening in our Fire Department leadership, it appears to be a good time to discuss the possibility of having a Public Safety Department with a Director who would oversee the Fire department, Emergency Management and Police Department.

A preliminary look at what our comparable cities' structure shows two - Blaine and Maplewood have Public Safety Directors or something similar. Blaine is part of a fire district which has their own chief and departmental staff. Public safety also oversees several inspection services, community standards, and an emergency management division. Maplewood also oversees an ambulance service.

In addition, Plymouth, Fridley, Woodbury and Mankato have a Public Safety Director – or something similar.

Plymouth has a PSD/Police Chief over the whole Department with a Deputy Police Chief, Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Administrative Manager, and 3 Battalion Chiefs.

Fridley has a Director of Public Safety, a Public Safety Coordinator, a Deputy Director Police, Deputy Director Fire, Fire Marshal, and 2 Battalion Chiefs. 

Woodbury just separated the Position of Public Safety Director from Police Chief where it had operated for some time. They now have a Public Safety Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Prosecutor and associated leadership under police and fire.  

Mankato has a Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director, Associate Director, 2 Senior Police Commanders, and a Senior Fire Commander.

Currently, on the Police side, we have one Chief and two Captains. On the Fire side, there are a Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Marshal (which does plan review and inspections), and an Admin Captain.

I should point out that Chief Tate currently is also our Emergency Management Director, which is often another area housed under a Public Safety Director.

As with any efforts adjusting the Police Department, our Police Civil Service Commission would have to agree to most changes. We are one of the few remaining organizations with a PCSC.