5 minute read
Reshaping Public Safety
Fire
As our community grows, so does the need for more fire-protection services. This year has been one of transformation as we moved our Tyler Fire Department (TFD) headquarters to a larger, more functional building near Downtown on Front Street. The rehabbed, multipurpose building can also serve as a temporary vaccine clinic or emergency operations center during crisis situations.
Fire Station 3, located at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, received a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle funded by the Federal Aviation Administration. The new ARFF truck replaces a 22-year-old vehicle. It will provide superior fire protection to the Tyler Airport, as it is able to hold 1,500 gallons of water, 500 pounds of dry chemical, and about 200 gallons of foam. The ARFF vehicle is equipped with a high-reach extendable turret, equipment to break the “skin” of airplanes, and the ability to test foam through an internal computer.
The TFD also took action to ensure that our community growth would not compromise our fire response times. We added two new positions and two new fire engines this year. These investments allow us to maintain our Class 1 rating and the benefit that it brings to our community through lower insurance premiums for property owners.
“Through these efforts, we will be prepared for the future, and have the resources in place to staff a new station when needed,” said Fire Chief David Coble.
Our family at the Tyler Fire Department stands ready to serve yours then, now, and tomorrow.
New Tyler Fire Department Headquarters
Sister Cities
Tyler, Texas, has had a special friendship with Jelenia Góra, Poland, for 30 years. Amid the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the Tyler community raised more than $30,000 to assist the Polish city in providing essential needs and housing for 3,000 refugees who fled their home country.
In September 2022, Fire Chief David Coble led a delegation of City Officials on a visit to Jelenia Góra to deepen the partnership between the cities. The Sister Cities delegation witnessed the generosity of Tylerites at work when they toured the refugee center.
During the weeklong visit, the delegation was also able to tour Jelenia Góra’s newest fire station. After trading traditional patches, Chief Coble and Commander Andrzej Ciosk discussed the idea of establishing an exchange program for firefighters in the two cities.
“We’re all here to help people,” said Fire Chief David Coble. “Commander Andrzej Ciosk is building the best fire department he can for the people of Jelenia Góra, and I’m doing the same for the residents of Tyler. We have the common goal to serve others.”
Fire Chief David Coble leads the Tyler Sister Cities delegation through a welcoming parade in Jelenia Góra, Poland.
Police
Advancements in technology help Tyler Police Department (TPD) Officers respond effectively to situations and provide the best service to the community. This year, the Tyler City Council approved funding $2.6 million over five years to provide TPD Officers with the latest public safety technology. Every police officer will receive new body cameras and tasers, handgun replacements, video technology systems in all vehicles with cloud-based storage software, and more.
In past years, Tyler Police Officers utilized tasers with a single non-lethal shot. The new tasers have two shots with different ranges and lasers to increase accuracy. These will provide more options for dealing with potentially dangerous or combative suspects without resorting to lethal force.
The video-technology additions let police officers capture and protect accident and crime-scene evidence, as well as store it on a cloud-based system for longer. This investment ensures that all Tyler Police Officers have the most up-to-date technology to document interactions with the community.
The department also invested grant funds into a 3D laser scanner, which allows officers to spend less time measuring and photographing a crime scene. The scanner takes millions of measurements per second while capturing fine details that allow a scene to be reconstructed three-dimensionally.
“This allows us to share exactly what officers saw at a crime scene with a court and jury,” said Chief of Police Jimmy Toler. “It’s not just something that would be used for crime scenes. It could be utilized for recreating an accident scene to show where things were when an incident occurred.”
Tyler Police Officer sets up new 3D laser scanner.
The TPD also transformed a building next door to the Downtown station into a dedicated crime lab for processing evidence, such as fingerprints, photos, and vehicles. The building has a garage that now allows investigators to gather evidence in a climate-controlled and blacked-out area, which preserves evidence and allows for accurate analysis. The new crime scene investigation (CSI) lab also created space that allows the TPD to train the next generation of East Texas law enforcement.
“At the beginning of 2023, we started the Tyler PD Police Academy,” said Police Chief Jimmy Toler. “It’s essential that our officers receive comprehensive training to best assist our community, and to know how to use new equipment and advancing technology. We’re not only training our own recruits but other East Texas agencies’ future officers. It’s a showcase of what the Tyler Police Department can do.”
