By Peoria Fire-Medical Chief Gary Bernard and Peoria Police Chief Thomas Intrieri
As the honored leaders of the Peoria Fire-Medical and Police Departments we are proud of the city’s unwavering support for public safety.
The men and women of our departments work tirelessly to keep Peoria a safe community for residents, visitors, schools and businesses.
Our reputation as a safe city makes Peoria an incredible place to raise a family, start a business, get in touch with the great outdoors, or settle into well-deserved retirement. That’s why our city continues to grow.
As we welcome new neighbors and businesses and watch our city limits expand, we must be able to meet new public safety demands.
Peoria city leadership understands this and continues to allocate resources to ensure we can maintain a safe city for all.
Our police officers, firefighters and medical teams are now covering over 230 square miles in the city limits and in our planning area, which includes Lake Pleasant. That is a lot of ground to cover and if you are in an emergency situation, every second matters.
Aware that emergency response by ground can only move so quickly over vast distances, the city launched its first aviation unit in August.
Our Bell-505 helicopter can provide quick search and rescue and fire suppression services where the city meets our more rural areas.
In fact, this past Labor Day “Peoria Air One” recorded its first mission responding to a call regarding a missing 60-year old male.
Spotting the gentlemen from the air, the helicopter crew was able to contact officers on the ground who connected with the man and provide needed hydration and a safe trip back to his family’s home.
This helicopter serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement on the ground, reducing risks to residents as it provides a bird’s-eye view during high-risk incidents such as police pursuits, crimes in progress and helps monitor activities at outdoor public events.
Maintaining a safe community requires a multi-pronged approach. The aviation unit is a welcome addition to the public safety toolbox, as City Council has also allocated additional resources to support safety and emergency response.
The Real Time Crime Center will go live later this year. We will be able to focus on video surveillance, using closed-circuit television systems, license plate scanners, body cameras worn by officers and drone cameras to assist in an emergency event.
Design efforts continue for the Joint Public Safety facility in northwest Peoria that will include a four-bay fire station and police substation. Construction is planned for fiscal year 2025-26.
We are also mindful to maintain existing assets. The Emergency Operations Center at the Public Safety Administration Building in downtown Peoria has been modified with the latest technology to assist with flooding or other major emergency event responses.
Operational improvements are underway at Fire Station 195 at Lake Pleasant Parkway, south of Pinnacle Peak Road; and Fire Station 196 near Vistancia.
As you can see, this city prioritizes public safety at all levels. No one program, or sole piece equipment can get the job done. But rather a holistic approach that utilizes many tools is what has kept, and will continue to keep, Peoria one of the safest cities in the nation.
