Fire Police
Fire police in Pennsylvania are volunteer fire company members and are sworn in by the mayor, borough council president, township supervisor, or the local district justice of the peace. The first fire police officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were appointed in Meadville, Crawford County in 1896. The passage of Title 35 in 1941 granted Pennsylvania's special fire police officers the police power to provide protection.
Fire police may control the flow of traffic to ensure emergency vehicles have a quick, safe entrance and egress to an incident. They may halt traffic or detour traffic because of the situation and the dangers involved.
All fire police officers are sworn officers of the law and when on duty shall display a badge of authority and shall be subject to control of the chief of police of the city, borough, town or township in which they are serving, or if none, of a member of the Pennsylvania state police. Disobeying a fire police officer is the same as disobeying a police officer, sheriff's deputy, state constable or state trooper and assaulting one is a felony.
- We are the face of the volunteer fire company.
- We make a safe path for apparatus arriving on a scene.
- We welcome the men and women of the media as they attempt to do their jobs. We allow them to do so in a limited area for their safety and the safety of the fire fighters on the scene.
- We welcome the Red Cross and provides a safe place for them to work.
- We assist the utility worker in making a scene safe for all those present.
- We direct motorists around the scene of an accident or explains to them the reason for the delay. As best as we can, we provide information on alternate routes, recognizing that many people do not respond well to a change in their plans.
- We assist Emergency Medical Technicians in working without interference, and in departing the scene to obtain necessary treatment for victims.
|
- We provide safe clearance around a helicopter landing zone so no one is injured by flying debris or a possible landing accident.
- We protect the public from a police incident where there may be live fire.
- We assist the public in evacuation and clearance of a hazardous material incident.
- We help the police officer move a wrecker into position, control a crime scene, and identify possible arson suspects in a suspicious fire scene.
- We are dedicated, trained and prepared to solve any problem we face.
- We are the public relations arm of the fire company, dealing with the public, sharing what information we can, assuring them that firefighters know their job, and providing a safe experience for the fire fighters, EMTs, media, victims, and the public.
|
Leadership
Fire Police Captain: Jim Bixler
Fire Police 1st Lieutenant: Gary Mauston
Fire Police 2nd Lieutenant: Zuhair Rafiq
Membership
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Gettysburg Fire Police is encouraged to contact us or review the information on how to volunteer on our website.
|
