The City of Cedar Falls has issued a response to those who have criticized their Public Safety Program. Communications Specialist Amanda Huisman sent out the release on Friday saying that despite the city’s use of public safety officers cross trained to do both police and fire duties they will always have a dedicated police department and fire department. Each person is assigned to one or the other and performs the tasks associated with that role first and foremost but can also respond and help on the other side as well. The release goes on to say that in the event of a fire emergency there are 6-8 firefighters working a 24 hour shift that can respond as well as 4-10 cross trained public safety officers who can also be called in. The city says that allows nearly double the amount of responders are available to help with issue. Cedar Falls has a total of 77 full-time responders.
