Longview Police Department    www.LongviewPolice.com
The Longview Police Department is a municipal agency with an authorized staff of 167 Police officers. The department also has 20 civilian employees assigned to various functions and 5 part-time Public Safety Assistants. Recently, the City of Longview has made a concerted effort to add more officers to the force, resulting in 18 new officers authorized by the end of 2007. Police services include traffic enforcement, responding to calls for service both emergency and non-emergency, and investigating crimes against persons and property. The Department is committed to principled performance of service in the public safety interest. Department members recognize that, by virtue of their position, their duty is to be good stewards of the public trust.
 
Community Policing Programs
The Longview Police department has placed significant importance on the community policing model. By working closely with the community, the police department works to provide preventive measures to fighting crime. Some notable aspects to these programs include an increase to the number of Police Area Representative Officers, the addition of a Hispanic Citizens Police Academy, and a new Youth Crime Watch Program.
     Community Policing Programs include:

• Police Area Representatives: PAR officers
• Citizens Police Academy
• Crime Watch
• National Night Out / Texans Against Crime
• Citizens on Patrol
• Disabled Parking Enforcement
• Reserve Officers Program
• Unity in the Community events
• Police Explorers Program

 
Longview Fire Department    www.LongviewFire.com
The Longview Fire Department includes Suppression and Prevention. Duties include the protection of life and property from natural and man-made disaster; providing Advanced Life Support pre-hospital care and transportation for the sick and injured; fire prevention and education of fire and health related topics; fire loss management; a comprehensive program of development review, building inspections, and fire origin and cause determination; overall emergency management coordination; and maintaining a highly trained work force to minimize the effects of fire or other disasters. For FY 2006-2007, the Fire Department had an authorized force of 168 positions. Apparatus for the department includes 7 engines, 3 ladder trucks, 1 heavy rescue / hazardous materials truck, and 4 MICU ambulances. The Fire Department operates 8 stations.


     Notable Longview Fire Department Distinctions:

• ISO Rating: Improved Insurance Service Organization (I.S.O.) rating from a 3 to a 2, resulting in potential savings for citizen’s insurance payments.
• Firefighters / Paramedics: All new recruits are required to have or obtain both certifications as a Firefighter and as a Paramedic. As such, the firefighters often are the first responders for emergency medical issues as well as fires.
• Regional Training: Provides training for firefighters from Longview and from throughout the
  Longview area through an established on-site Longview training program.
• Mobile Command Center: Operates a “Mobile Command Center” for use in large scale emergency operations in conjunction with Gregg County.
• Hazmat: Provides Hazardous Materials mitigation operations for Longview and the region.
• Specialty: Has both a Special Operations Team and a Water Rescue Team to utilize as necessary.

 
 
Partners in Prevention   www.PartnersinPrevention.com
Partners in Prevention is a community partnership recognized as a way for people to come together in respect and trust to work for a safe, healthy, drug-free community. A city Council ordinance in 1989 created the Multi-Purpose Drug and Alcohol Abuse Task Force. In 1991, Partners in Prevention (formerly known as Longview Drug Task Force) began organizing a community partnership that is still in place. Today Partners in Prevention, a division of the City of Longview, is a community partnership of more than 300 individuals and organizations working together to prevent substance abuse by youth through community mobilization. The Longview City Council selects members of the Partners in Prevention Steering Committee to provide guidance to staff about programming, approve expenses, and serve as advocates for community initiatives. Through involvement of the entire community, Partners in Prevention works create an environment in which young people can grow up health, responsible, and drug-free.
 
 
 
Other Notable Public Safety Programs: Project LifeSaver
Coordinated by the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, and sponsored by the Longview Pilot Club, Project LifeSaver is a program designed to assist elderly individuals at risk of becoming lost. The primary mission is to locate and rescue missing persons through established partnerships with local law enforcement to help save money and time for taxpayers. By forming partnerships with local law enforcement and public safety organizations, Project Lifesaver deploys specially trained teams with the most reliable technology available to quickly locate and return wandering adults and children to their families and caregivers. Project Lifesaver relies on proven radio technology and a specially trained search and rescue team. Clients that are enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify the local Project Lifesaver agency that the person is missing, a search and rescue team responds to the wanderer's area and starts searching with the mobile locater tracking system. Search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times average less than 30 minutes.*
*information according to the www.projectlifesaver.org