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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is the department in charge of police, fire and rescue in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is the largest public safety department in the nation, with over 300 sworn officers. The Kalamazoo Public Safety Department was created in 1983 when the Kalamazoo Fire Department and the Kalamazoo Police Department merged.. As one of the orriginal and largest public safety departments in the nation, KDPS trains other departments on the public safety model.

Mission

The mission of Kalamazoo Public Safety is to provide for the safety and welfare of all citizens and visitors to the City of Kalamazoo and to protect them from the loss of life and property from fire and crime. This mission includes, but is not limited to, the maintenance of order, the promotion of crime and fire prevention programs, the investigation of crimes leading to the apprehension of perpetrators, recovery of property, and the providing of emergency medical services.

Divisions

The department has many divisions.

Administration:
This division headed by the Public Safety chief leads and manages all Public Safety operations.

Criminal Investigations:
This division investigates criminal complaints it also is in charge of operations of the Crime Lab.

• Crime Lab

Processes Evidence in criminal investigations

Fire Marshal:
Investigation of Fire Scenes, charged with Fire Prevention, Fire Inspection and all fire operations.

Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team:
Multi-jurisdictional narcotics team

Office of Professional Standards:
Investigates complaints of officer misconduct.

Operations
Primary Response Force for police, fire and rescue services. Division composed of:

• K–9

supports narcotics and operations divisions with K–9 services.

• Traffic Enforcement

Enforces traffic laws.

• Honor Guard

Represents public safety at parades, funerals and memorials.

• Special Weapons and Tactics

High risk situations

• Community Public Safety

Addresses Neighborhood issues.

• Explorers

Composed of people aged 14–21 interested in a law enforcement career.

• Bomb Squad

Disposes of explosive ordnance.

• Training

Training of Public Safety staff

Recruiting:
Recruits officer's for Public Safety

Casualties

On April 18, 2011, while responding to a shots fired call in Kalamazoo's Edison neighborhood, PSO Eric Zapata was fatally shot. Officer Zapata was the first officer in Kalamazoo to be killed in the line of duty. A funeral was held in his honor on April 26, 2011 at Miller Auditorium. Thousands of people, some from around the United States showed up to pay their final respects.

References

1. United States of America Congressional Record: Merger Platinum Anniversary, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety – Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IugY8bPDPJ8
3. Officer Eric Zapata remembered: Fellow Kalamazoo officers recall the night he died (Part 1 of 2) | MLive.com

External links

• Kalamazoo Public Safety Promotional Video

• Law enforcement agencies of Michigan
• Fire departments in Michigan
• Kalamazoo, Michigan