Session 4: Public Safety

Session 4 discussed Public Safety and was held at the Gainesville Police Department. To begin the cold morning, the Gainesville SWAT team displayed some of the tools and equipment they use, and we got a chance to see first hand how they operate and deal with situations that would require their presence.

Afterwards, we joined GPD Chief Norman Botsford and GFR Chief Bill Northcutt in a briefing room that was renovated and refurbished using funds seized from drug busts.

After Chief Botsford’s introduction, he turned it over to Captain Ed Book and Lieutenant Keith Kameg who explained different aspects of the organization and function of the Gainesville Police Department (http://www.gainesvillepd.org/), and how their officers are assigned to the different patrol zones. Captain Book emphasized that while a police presence is always helpful, the citizens of those individual communities can really help crime control and prevention. The officers assigned to each region make every effort to be heavily involved with neighborhood watch committees, and encourage prevention techniques such as trimming bushes and hedges so patrols can see all the way to the house and windows, etc. Using these prevention and cooperation methods with community and neighborhood leaders, the Gainesville Police Department can serve a more supportive role in keeping crime at a minimum.

Next, Chief Northcutt gave a presentation on the history and locations of the Gainesville Fire Rescue Department (http://www.cityofgainesville.org/gfr/) and stations located throughout the City limits. Did you know that the station located at 10 SW 36th Street was originally designed as a fallout shelter? “The exterior walls and roof are poured concrete 12 inches thick, and is built to withstand the worst nature can offer,” said Chief Northcutt. He then announced that thanks to the City Commission, a new fire station, number 8, was recently approved and the zoning and land use changes are currently taking place. This will relieve other stations and put another layer of protection over that area of the City.

A second point that was mentioned with Gainesville Fire Rescue was the fact that GFR is different from other City fire departments in that every engine or ladder has at least one employee who is trained in EMS. Thus, with the necessary medical supplies on the vehicle as well, GFR is able to do and control any situation that would require a standard ambulance, except for transporting someone who needs medical attention at a hospital. This greatly reduces response time, and could mean life and death if an ambulance was first needed once the Fire Rescue team arrived. This 2-in-1 system has provided numerous benefits to the City, and provides an advantage over a traditional Fire Department.

Next came the part of the session that everyone was waiting for. Multiple demonstrations and hands-on explanations awaited us outside the Police Headquarters building, where both GPD and GFR had fire engines, police patrol cars, the SWAT vehicle, and the HAZMAT team. We broke up into different groups, and rotated amongst the “stations”.

One was with the head of Gainesville Police Department’s traffic division, Officer Steve Girard. He explained what his job with traffic entails, and showed us how to use the laser “guns” that detect certain vehicle’s speeds.


Other stations included Gainesville Fire Rescue’s HAZMAT unit, a GFR ladder-engine, the Gainesville Fire Rescue Department’s Search and Rescue Dog, as well as one of the Gainesville Police Department’s K-9 Units that demonstrated how the officer gives commands to the dog “Grady” and how the dog would handle taking down a suspect.

Kate volunteered to take a ride 100 feet in the air in the basket of the ladder to demonstrate the height of the ladder truck and take photos of the participants enjoying the demonstrations below. You can see some of those photos below.

REMEMBER: The next to last session (#5) will focus on GRU (with a special bonus budget session) and will be held this Friday at the Kanapaha Water Reclamation Facility at 3901 SW 63rd Boulevard. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. If you need a ride to the facility (it is a bit distant from the closest RTS bus stop) there will be a van available to transport you that will leave from City Hall - but you will need to meet in the City Hall lobby by 8:00 a.m.(staff is driving and will need to arrive at the facility early). We will return to City Hall by 12:00 p.m. As always, do not hesitate to contact us by e-mailing parmeleeka@cityofgainesville.org or calling 334-5017 if you have any questions. See you next week!