The Safety Services Area provides all emergency services for the Ann Arbor community, consisting of three service units: police, fire and emergency management.
The Police Department is headquartered in City Hall and has 231 employees, 159 of whom are sworn police officers. It is a full-service department, with road patrol services, a detective bureau, community policing officers who provide neighborhood beat patrols and apply problem-solving skills, K-9 and bicycle patrol programs, Neighborhood Watch and crime-prevention services, etc.
The Fire Department is also a full-service department with 100 highly trained employees, operating out of five stations, including its headquarters at Fire Station One, 111 North 5th Avenue, across from City Hall. In addition to fire suppression services, it provides specialized rescue services, and maintains a HAZMAT unit and a fire prevention bureau. Beginning in November, 2004, the police and fire departments will operate a joint 911 Communications and Dispatch Center on the second floor of Fire Station One.
The Office of Emergency Management coordinates all emergency planning for weather-related and other disasters, maintains an Emergency Operations Center, conducts emergency preparedness training and operates a citywide storm/tornado warning siren system. All members of this Service Area are totally committed to providing the best possible emergency services to the people who live in, work in or visit Ann Arbor.