News

Texas City`s EMS, Police, Fire Departments Ask For More as City Continues to Grow

Nicole Chavez

10/06/2015

Oct. 06--Just like the Austin City Council and several other city groups, the Public Safety Commission also switched to the 10-member format this summer, bringing some fresh, new faces to the discussion table.

As the new members of the City Council's public safety advisory board continue to get better acquainted with the agencies to which they will issue recommendations, union leaders and the chiefs of police, firefighters and emergency medical services laid out the challenges they face -- and even their wish lists for the city leaders --during a meeting of the commission Monday. Some of the highlights were:

More, more, more

Union leaders quickly began lobbying for more ambulances, police officers, fire stations and no more cuts to overtime money -- and the chiefs from the fire department and EMS backed them up. Bob Nicks, president of the firefighters' union, claimed Austin needs between six and eight new fire stations to serve the outskirts of the city and recent annexations. After requesting funds for the stations last year, the city only approved the construction of one station in South Austin, Fire Department Chief Rhonda Kerr told the commission.

Growing pains

Public safety agencies are experiencing firsthand the effects of the city's population growth. EMS medics have seen an increase of 61 percent in calls in the past five years and, in the majority of the cases -- 85 percent -- someone is taken to the hospital. For police officers, growth means going from call to call for their entire shift. "Our community policing has gone down the drain," said Ken Casaday, president of the police union.

Less downtown hiccups

Casaday emphasized the struggles that officers face working downtown. They regularly deal with violent incidents like breaking out fights in large crowds and among intoxicated revelers around the entertainment district or the Sixth Street area. In particular, he said, events like South by Southwest, Mardi Gras and Formula 1 take a toll on the police force. Firefighters are also having issues in downtown. Brian Manzola, assistant fire chief, said fire trucks sometimes have a hard time getting out of Station 1 at Fifth and Trinity streets -- which is the busiest one in the city -- due to pedestrian traffic.

A dream

Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Ernesto Rodriguez mentioned his department is creating programs to address mental health issues among medics, increase retention and the need for more ambulances during his presentation. When the commission asked him about the idea of merging the local EMS and fire departments, Rodriguez briefly mentioned several conversations he has had with Kerr about sharing some of its resources as an alternative to the merger, and also even creating joint a central logistics operation. But Rodriguez called the idea "a dream."