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Government: Ready to Serve

Fresno is lucky to have dedicated public servants working on behalf of the local citizens. The pro-active government is a hands-on entity that continuously strives to make Fresno a city worthy of calling home for residents and businesses alike.

The city is run by a mayor, seven-member council, the city manager, and numerous department directors to name a few. The mayor and council members are responsible for voting on policies and procedures while the various department directors and ultimately, the city manager are responsible for implementing new policies and procedures.

City departments include Public Works; Parks, Recreation and Community Services; Economic Development; Public Affairs; City Planning and Development; Finance; Public Utilities; Personnel Services; Office of Education; City Clerk’s Office; Fresno Area Express (FAX); General Services; Housing and Community Development; Information Services; Police and Fire.

The Police and Fire Departments (along with the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department) are among the most publicly visible in the city’s community.

The Fresno Police Department works with the community and relies on their assistance to fully implement many of its programs such as Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch and Citizens on Patrol. The Police Department also works to build trust in the community leading to greater levels of cooperation. It is because of these combined efforts that Fresno is currently enjoying a 35-year low in its crime rates.

Fresno Police Department’s targeted gang suppression efforts dramatically enhance the continuing drop in violent crimes in Fresno. With the continued cooperation between the Police Department and the community, Fresno residents are reclaiming their neighborhoods, streets and parks.

In addition to our decreasing crime rates, the Fresno Police Department has received both state and national recognition for its traffic safety efforts. The Police Department’s well-rounded traffic safety education program, embracing a philosophy of personal responsibility and focusing on the worst offenders has resulted in a consistent decrease in the number of traffic collisions every year for the past five years. Since 2002, traffic fatalities have reduced by more than 28 percent and injury collisions are down 24 percent.

The Fresno Police Department’s commitment to excellence became nationally recognized in 2005 when it became the largest municipality in California to receive national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Accreditation provides a mechanism and process to ensure that the Fresno Police Department meets and continues to maintain the most current “best practices” in the law enforcement field.

This is accomplished through constant internal review of departmental policies, procedures, and practices, as well as audits of every component of the agency.

The Fresno Police Department is committed to continued development and innovation in order to combat crime and to keep the citizens safe. Through the implementation of “Smart Policing,” the department takes a proactive—as opposed to a reactive—approach to policing. With the assistance of new technology, the department is increasingly able to use same day data to get ahead of crime trends. Planned state of the art video technology provides a major component of Smart Policing.

It is through the efforts of all of these programs, and several more, that the Fresno Police Department is able to carry out its mission on a daily basis: to provide a professional, effective and timely response to crime and disorder and to enhance traffic safety in our community.

The Fresno Fire Department works equally hard to protect the citizens of Fresno. One of the oldest fire departments in the country, the full-service department has 433 permanent positions including chief officers, firefighters, inspectors, and support personnel. The fire department responds to over 30,000 calls annually and provides service to the Fig Garden and North Central Fire Protection Districts.

Emergency calls include fire incidents, car accidents, and medical-aid emergencies to name a few. The department provides fire and life-safety messages through community outreach to enhance public safety. The department has received national recognition for its innovative programs and progressive approach. Working to stay on the cutting edge of technology, the department is always ready to assist those in need with whatever means they have available.

The Police and Fire Departments are the first responders to emergencies in the Fresno area. The departments consist of well-trained and dedicated individuals who devote their lives to helping others. Personnel have received specialized training to handle various emergencies including terrorist threats and hazardous material alerts.