Public Safety – Gardner MA
The City of Gardner Massachusetts has accomplished successes in Public Safety, including, but not limited to:
Drug Interdiction
K-9 Program
Community Policing and Active Outreach
Safety Equipment for Fire Department
Citizen Training Academies
Junior Police Academies
School Resource Officer
Fire Prevention Training from Kids to Seniors
Increased Lighting in various areas to increase safety
GardnerMagazine.com spoke with Gardner MA Mayor Michael Nicholson about what Gardner has accomplished in the area of Public Safety
Mayor Nicholson: We’ve done a lot lately. I think the new fire apparatus that we purchased through the American Rescue Plan funding that we have. That will be a new engine, a new ambulance, and a new rescue truck. We’ve started saving for a new ladder truck. We’ve purchased new cruisers for the police department, most of which have been hybrid vehicles that also meet the requirements for what a police officer needs. In terms of speed and durability, capacities and things of that. We’ve got, We’ve reinstated our canine program with Rocky and Officer Willis. There’s a lot that we’ve done here at the drone that we now have in terms of really helping our public safety, and is just thinking, how can we make things better for our officers. One of the biggest pieces of technology that’s been helpful for the officers in our Investigations Bureau is the new device that if we run into a situation where there’s drugs involved, we can now scan the packages with this device without having to open the package, and it will tell you what the substance is within the package. That way were not having any contact with the substances that are there. If there’s fentanyl, there were not having any worry of any contamination with the officers. It’s just something that finding what new technology ways makes it safer and more effective for our officers to be a part of.