Medical Emergency Service (EMS) The City of Gresham and many of its residents are dependent on this service for routine and non-emergency medical care. An ambulance and paramedics, as well as emergency medical personnel, are ready 24 hours a day to respond to medical emergencies. The service is provided on a non-commercial basis and is funded through a partnership between government and private sources. Medical transportation is provided on a cost-recovery basis. All services are administered by a group of community service professionals - paramedics, emergency medical technicians, transportation personnel, etc. The Emergency Medical Service is a volunteer-based public service. There are no salaries or benefits paid to the medical personnel, who provide their services for altruistic reasons. The City of Gresham EMS has one unit and one ambulance to provide quick response to most calls. Advanced life support services and the availability of the helicopter are also provided in order to offer the highest level of medical care available for the community. Community/Civic Organizations Gresham has a number of active civic organizations in the area of Community/Civic Organizations. It is an active organization involved with the development and administration of the services and projects it offers. Its responsibilities vary from time to time and place to place. The Community Service Organizations in Gresham include: American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Youth Organization, Girl Scouts, Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, Optimist Club, Oregon Country Rotary, Pacific University Alumni Association, Police Activities League (PAL), Rotary Club, Service League of Gresham, Soroptimists of Gresham, and Theta Alpha Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. There are many other organizations that might be classified as community or civic organizations. This is a broad category that includes civic and regional organizations such as the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Multnomah County League of Women Voters. Other organizations are of a more specialized nature. Organizations might be classified as church-related groups. Certain organizations have members that span more than one category. The American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America are two groups that cover both community and civic-minded people. Sports groups can be part of both groups, especially in the case of sports teams such as the local Gresham High School football team and the Tri-City Eagles hockey team. Civic and community groups include: American Legion, Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Youth Organization, Girl Scouts, Gresham Kiwanis, Optimist Club, Lions Club, Police Activities League (PAL), Rotary Club, Service League of Gresham, Soroptimists of Gresham, and Theta Alpha Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Gresham Fire Department Fire Prevention - A fire department is a combination of many different organizations and individuals working together to ensure the safety of the community. Fire Department personnel are available 24 hours a day to respond to fires, medical emergencies, and other situations. Fire and Rescue is made up of about 100 individuals that work in three basic areas: Firefighters, Paramedics, and Fire and Safety Education. There are a total of approximately 170 personnel working in this department. They are all volunteer workers, which means they are not being paid a salary but are expected to do their job with the understanding that it is in the best interest of the people they serve. The department's mission is to improve the quality of life and protect life and property by providing a level of services to the citizens of Gresham that are consistent with the community's expectations and goals. The Gresham Fire Department believes that the way in which the members of a community choose to live is of the utmost importance to the long term interests of their community as a whole. Our Mission - The Gresham Fire Department's mission is to improve the quality of life and protect life and property by providing a level of services to the citizens of Gresham that are consistent with the community's expectations and goals. Community Policing Community Policing is the mission and goal of the Gresham Police Department and all law enforcement agencies in Gresham. Community policing is achieved when the community feels it has a meaningful working relationship with their police department. This means both the police department and the community have the same set of expectations when dealing with each other. In order to meet the expectations of the community, the community and police department need to share certain common interests and participate in actions which reflect their common interest. These actions may include helping a neighbor in need, participating in a community event, or helping to make our community a safer place to live, work, and play. The Gresham Police Department is dedicated to this mission, as are all Gresham Police Officers. The community can have peace of mind that when they are contacted by the police, it is for a legitimate need. The citizens of Gresham expect the police department to act quickly to enforce the laws of our community in a fair and impartial way. The police department and the community share a common goal in crime prevention and law enforcement. Working together, we can get the job done better than if we worked separately. Public Safety Public Safety, or the safety of the community as a whole, is one of the most important aspects of all police work. We strive to establish and maintain a long-term relationship with our community. We are concerned with what is going on in the community and are determined to maintain a reasonable level of crime prevention by working together with the citizens of Gresham. The Police Department acts as a resource for the community by providing information and services that will lead to a safer and more secure Gresham. As a part of the Gresham Police Department, each officer must also recognize that he/she is just as susceptible to crime and injury as anyone else, and has the same rights. One of the responsibilities of all officers of the Gresham Police Department is to be an ambassador for the community by enhancing the quality of life in Gresham. Fire Department The Gresham Fire Department is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to protect lives and property through: Fire Prevention Emergency Services - The City of Gresham operates its own Fire Department, which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are also trained to respond to medical emergencies. Gresham Fire responds to a wide range of emergency situations. They operate one type of fire truck and provide fire prevention/emergency services to the City of Gresham on a 24/7 basis. Fire prevention/emergency services include: fire safety inspections and education, pre-planned fire inspections of commercial buildings, business fire prevention inspections, fire rescue, building inspection, special inspections for hotels/motels, apartment buildings, restaurants and warehouses, building permits, and other inspections as needed. The department responds to medical emergencies with the City Ambulance Service. Also, the Fire Chief works closely with the Police Chief and Sheriff's Office and both the Fire Department and the Police Department provide a unified response to emergencies. Gresham Fire responds to a wide range of emergency situations. They operate one type of fire truck and provide fire prevention/emergency services to the City of Gresham on a 24/7 basis. The Emergency/Special Operations Bureau consists of 2 engine companies, 2 paramedic ambulances, 1 hazmat truck, 1 water tender, 2 command vehicles, 1 hazmat bus, 2 rescue boats and the SWAT vehicle. Fire-Rescue service encompasses the dispatch of fire apparatus and other required resources; the evaluation and control of the scene of a fire, crash or structure fire; and the safe removal of the fire from the scene.