Every city faces their unique set of challenges. The city of Detroit is no different. Limited funds and high crime rates have plagued Detroit and its public safety for decades. However, over the past five years, Detroit has made amazing strides in improving its city’s public safety. Detroit’s first responders continue to improve the safety of their city with the assistance they receive from the Detroit Public Safety Foundation.
Detroit’s Police, Fire and Ambulance Departments and its employees have been stretched thin by its city’s economic problems. The lack of funding for Detroit’s first responders has left them without the necessary resources to serve the public. As recently as 2015, only six ambulances were in service and responsible for covering 140 square miles. Firefighters were not properly trained for responding to medical emergencies. Department funds have been further strained by staffing a police force responsible for patrolling a city with one of the nation’s highest homicide rates.
These limitations on Detroit’s first responders caused response times to skyrocket above the national average. In 2012, the response times of first responders climbed to nearly one hour, over 40 minutes above the national average. Overcoming these challenges in any city is extremely difficult, however it is especially hard in a city facing poverty, declining tax revenues, and one of the highest crime rates in the nation. To improve its Emergency Departments and the public safety of Detroit, Detroit’s first responders have relied heavily on the support from the Detroit Public Safety Foundation.
Since 2003, the Detroit Public Safety Foundation has been dedicated to strengthening the Police and Fire Departments and promoting public safety. They fund innovative programs that help the Detroit Police and Fire Departments make Detroit a safer place to live and work. Due to the programs funded by the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, first responders receive the necessary training and equipment to save lives and respond to 911 calls more efficiently and effectively. Funding also helps support community outreach programs that educate citizens on public safety, as well as bridges the gap between first responders and their community.
“The Detroit Public Safety Foundation has been an invaluable tool and priceless commodity for our Department. They have been instrumental in facilitating many programs and providing numerous grants without which the success we have experienced as a Police Department would not have been possible.“ ~ James E. Craig, Chief of Police
Programs funded by the Detroit Public Safety have had an extraordinary impact on the city of Detroit. Since 2015, these programs have assisted in improving the public safety of Detroit by:
- Doubling the number of ambulances in service, from 6 to 14
- Providing firefighters with cross-training to respond to medical emergencies
- Reducing the number of homicides to a 40-year low
- Decreasing the average first responder response time to below the national average
The Homes for Heroes Foundation recognizes the Detroit Public Safety Foundation as a faithful servant to the first responders of Detroit. Its funding and support has allowed Detroit’s Departments to operate more efficiently and safely, while improving the public safety of Detroit’s citizens. We are proud to provide the Detroit Public Safety Foundation with a grant of $5,000 to be applied to peer-to-peer needs.
Sources:
The Detroit Public Safety Foundation
Motor City Muckcraker
The Detroit News
