Gratitude for our Police and Fire First Responders in Fishers!
Fishers One attended the September 16, 2021 Fishers GOP meeting where representatives from the Fishers Police and Fire Departments gave an update about their organizations and answered questions thereafter. We learned a lot about them and are extremely grateful for the selfless service they provide!
Police-
A report by the current Chief of Police, Ed Gebhart, established as the Chief in Fishers in 2018:
Did you know?
-Most crime in our area is coming up from Indy or down from Anderson.
-There were 53,000 calls for police in 2020 on record.
-The police had to put their hands on people 35 times
-He speaks to Mayor Fadness on a daily basis.
-There is always a fight on drugs with our youth, but in our area, it’s not as bad as some surrounding areas.
-There are 10 officers dedicated to patrol HSE Schools; The Chief likes that Dr. Stokes is in alignment with offering more resources for the mental health of our youth.
-The largest issue for Fishers Police is that they desire for the community to let the officers do their job. “We work to understand how people feel about us when we’re on patrol. We’re also working to learn and understand the people in our community that we service.”
Get more info on the police department HERE!
Fire-
A report by current Fire Captain, Joe Hartig:
Did you know?
-25 years ago there was ONE paramedic for all of Fishers.
-With the growth of Fishers (population explosion!), the EMS system has been greatly expanded to support the larger community.
-Newer construction in Fishers has a 4 to 6-minute burn time because the homes are much closer and the materials now used are more flammable than the homes of decades past. Given that, response time is roughly 5 to 6 minutes for a home fire.
-The Fire and EMS services know they are needed quicker than in the past and need to be extremely mindful because of the rise in demand.
-In 1996 there were 2000 911 calls per year and 50% of those alone were for EMS.
-In 2021 thru August, the EMS calls were up by 24% from the last five months and they project that to rise by 30% by the end of the calendar year.
-Six years ago, the top needs that were taken to the hospital from the EMS runs included: mental health, falls, diabetes, and heart disease. That said, the first responders are seeing a rise in the need for assisting those with mental health challenges, for all ages. Some of the greatest needs even to this day involve anxiety, depression, and suicide.
-There are 7 total fire stations and 155 fire personnel in Fishers.
-There were 400 applicants for a handful of 2022 positions. 200 were interviewed for 9 total positions. That said, people desire to work in Fishers!
*Get more info on the fire department HERE!
Want to connect with the Police and/or Fire Departments? You can! They both offer citizens and youth programs at various times in the year for community involvement. Get more info HERE!
Fishers One has sincere gratitude for our Police, Fire, and EMS staff in Fishers. We are so thankful for their presence in our city and their positive relationship with the community. It’s a blessing to learn more about you and we support and applaud the job you all do. Thank you for your service!