PUBLIC SAFETY

Public Safety is major component in maintaining high quality of life standards. To ensure these standards are met, Tampa Police will hire additional personnel to expand its Community Oriented Policing (COPS) program and Tampa Fire Rescue will open two new facilities in FY02.

In FY02, Police sworn strength will increase by 17 officers to 979 resulting in a ratio of 3.23 police officers per thousand population, second among major Florida cities. Nine officers will be assigned to provide additional support for New Tampa, the Channelside District and Tampa Heights areas. The remaining eight officers will form a fourth squad for TPD's nationally recognized QUAD (Quick Uniform Attack on Drugs) unit.

Tampa Fire Rescue will open one new and one replacement fire station in the fall of 2001. Station #21, located in Hunter's Green will improve fire rescue and emergency medical services response times in the New Tampa area. Seventeen firefighter positions were budgeted in FY01 in anticipation of the station's opening. Station #13 is being rebuilt on Annie Street near 30th Street and Busch Boulevard. Together, both stations construction cost approximately $2.7 million and were funded from Utility Tax bond proceeds.