IAFF Position Statement Against Consolidation of Fire and Police Departments  

The current economic decline is leading some municipalities to consider consolidation -- or merging -- of fire and police departments under a single public safety office (PSO) with the guise of saving money. 

IAFF affiliates need to be aware of the severely negative effect PSO systems can have on fire services.

The IAFF has developed a "Fire and Police Consolidation: An Ineffective Use of Resources" manual to give affiliates general information on PSO systems and guidance to prevent them from being implemented in your jurisdiction. A detailed toolkit -- available to affiliate leaders -- accompanies the manual and includes a list of top 20 questions to ask city/county managers, mayors and councilors who may be considering a PSO system.

Consolidation generally involves the elimination of the fire chief as the head of the fire service and the appointment of a public safety director to head both fire and police operations. It also involves the replacement of fire fighters with public safety officers who perform both police and fire duties.

The IAFF opposes the consolidation of fire and emergency services departments with local law enforcement agencies, including the move to so-called "public safety officers" who are cross-trained to perform both fire/EMS and law enforcement functions at the same time at an incident.

Implementing PSOs undermines effective fire suppression and emergency medical response by relying on personnel on scene to act in multiple roles -- roles that are often at odds with each other and which cannot be done simultaneously, such as securing a crime scene and treating a gunshot victim or attacking a fire.

The roles, training and equipment for fire fighters/paramedics and police are vastly different and distinct and should remain separate. In addition, the consolidation concept breaks up the company unit of a fire department, whereas police respond as individuals or in teams of no more than two. It also frequently means a reduction in fire fighter staffing and crew size.

Attempts to consolidate fire and police departments are traditionally associated with efforts to cut the cost of public safety, but the anticipated benefits are rarely realized and instead result in poor service, increased risk for the community and require additional resources -- thus increasing costs. 

IAFF affiliates should be prepared to educate elected decision-makers about the dangers of PSOs and encourage local elected officials to consider the fire accreditation process developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International City Managers Association (ICMA) in the 1990s. Accreditation is the most effective method for assessing fire department resources and performance, and is designed to develop a long-term improvement plan for fire departments (factoring in cost considerations and community risk).

Fire/EMS and law enforcement staffing models are diverse and complex, and cannot be based on attempts to provide a cheaper method of service delivery. PSO systems offer false short-term hope and real long-term problems. Quality of service must never be sacrificed and life-saving resources should not be reduced to balance the bottom line.

The economy is just one of many challenges faced by fire and emergency services. The IAFF maintains the position that any consolidation of fire and police organizations will further harm resource-deprived communities.

Management and labor must work together to seek real solutions to building strong, efficient and effective departments based on data-driven models such as those included in the accreditation process.

Accreditation is offered through the Center for Public Safety Excellence. For more information, email mshaffer@iaff.org or call (202) 824-1546.

Download the Fire and Police Consolidation: An Ineffective Use of Resources manual.