 “All the services in Vernon are outstanding. The city is extremely responsive…they understand our specific business needs & problems. They are fair and equitable, professional, knowledgeable & well-educated. The fire & police department are especially outstanding. We recently had a large fire that resulted in more than $1 million dollars worth of damage…both the fire & police departments were there in about 3 minutes which is just amazing!” John Maniatakis, Exec. V.P. Emergency ServicesVernon boasts a Class 1 rated Fire Department (one of only 35 cities in the U.S. to hold this rating) and a Police Department that provides high-level security and a quick response time. Fire:Few places in the world have fire protection like the small city of Vernon. Merely 5.2 square miles in size, Vernon has its own Class 1 fire department. All fire personnel receive the most advanced fire and rescue training and are provided with state-of the-art equipment and apparatus. Four fire stations ensure that a fire crew is ready to respond within every mile and a half of city property! This strategic location of stations has resulted in a response time of less than three minutes whenever life or property is threatened.
The Vernon Fire Department has enjoyed tremendous support by city officials and the business community and is allocated the resources required to maintain a highly effective and efficient emergency response system. Because of the highly industrialized nature of Vernon, and the unusual hazards inherent in that environment, a major focus of operations is towards the specialized training of fire department emergency responders. In addition to the normal jobs and tasks of firefighting and emergency medical response, many of the Vernon Firefighters receive the following specialized training:
The Vernon Fire Department also supports the surrounding communities, sending teams to help fight wildfires and structure fires as needed. The commitment to public service combined with the need to keep pace with the ever-accelerating pace of technology has also led to such specialty programs as Vernon Fire's Urban Search and Rescue and Hazardous Materials Teams. Furthermore, the Fire Prevention Program has had such great success that structure fires are at an all time low. Such service has placed the Vernon Fire Department into the top 35 highest rated departments in the United States. Police:The Vernon Police Department consists of 59 sworn and 25 civilian men and women dedicated to providing outstanding law enforcement services. The Department is led by Chief Steve Towles. His administrative staff consists of Captain James Rodino, and the Service’s Commander Lieutenant Dan Calleros.  The Patrol Division has 33 officers assigned to two 12-hour shifts. The department is proud of its average response time of less than four minutes for emergency calls for service. There is one lieutenant and three sergeants active on each shift. Each patrol car has state-of-the-art equipment. Mobile computer terminals using advanced wireless technology allow officers to communicate with the station, other officers, and complete reports in the field. The reports can be transmitted to the station supervisor for review and processing. Additionally, the mobile computer terminals can query State and national criminal databases. Patrol Officers also use night vision binoculars as well as handheld and vehicle mounted Thermal Imaging Devices. Crime scenes are captured on digital cameras and video recorders. The department actively uses the Community Oriented Policing model to provide services to the businesses and the public. Specialized details such as bicycle and K-9 units are an important element of Community Oriented Policing. Officers are trained to handle offenses unique to a commercial/industrial based community. The recently upgraded Communication Center is a model for other agencies. The Computer Aided Dispatch system is fully integrated with the mobile computer, the records management and the E911 systems. In addition to answering all E911 emergency calls for service, the communication center dispatches Vernon Fire Department units. Links: |