Durham Public Safety Program – 1970 to 1985

Contents

Introduction
Short Version
Long Version
Sources

Introduction

Presenting a timeline of the Durham Public Safety Officer program, which combined fire and police duties from 1970 to 1986. Collected from dozens of news articles during that time period. See below for source materials, including a larger collection of 1,300+ newspaper articles about DFD going back before the 1920s. Been cooking for a few weeks. And thank you to the Durham Morning Herald and Durham Sun for such detailed coverage of DFD over the decades. Made it easy, thanks to newspapers.com.

Short Version

1965, Nov – Proposal to partially merge fire and police duties.
1965, Oct – Proposal rejected by council.
1970, Oct – New proposal to merge fire and police.
1970, Nov – Council votes 11 to 1 to proceed with a partial merger.
1971, Apr – First PSO academy graduated.
1971, May – First PS company activated at Station 5.
1971, Sep – Second PS company activated at Station 7.
1971, Sep – First PS director Jacob Jessup unexpectedly resigns after six months.
1972, Jan – Third PS company activated at Station 6.
1972, Jun – Fourth PS company activated at Station 4.
1972, Jul – Firefighter work week reduced to 56 hours. New schedule on/off for 14 days, then off for seven. [When did third shift start?]
1972, Sep – First aerial platform delivered, Snorkel for Station 1.
1973, May – Fifth PS company activated at Station 3.
1973, May – PS patrol cars are light blue by this time.
1974, Nov – PS Station 8 activated, new building.
1975, Mar – Council approved converting Station 3 to PS station. Was partial PS, partial fire by then.
1977, Feb – PS Station 9 activated, new building completed last year.
1977, May/Jun – Second aerial company added, Aerial 21.
1977, Sep – New training center + shop building dedicated.
1978, Jun – Total PS organization recommended, across all stations. Rejected by council.
1978, Jun – New Station 10 ready for occupancy, but won’t open for at least a year, due to issues related to planned annexation.
1978, Jun – Third aerial company added, Aerial 31.
1979, Jan – Council approved creation of PS department with authority of fire and police. Also creates two large PS districts to manage the smaller PS districts.
1980, May – Council voted to abolish fire and police chief positions. No replacements after each retires.
1980, Dec – Police Chief retired.
1983, Jun – Fire Chief retired.
1983, Jul – Council considered changes to PSO program, including making Station 1 a combination fire and PS station.
1984, Jun – PS Station 10 activated, but years after completion due to delayed annexation. Four PSOs assigned per shift.
1984, Dec – Consultants hired to study PSO program and its effectiveness.
1985, Mar – Study committee received report, recommends ending PSO program.
1985, Jun – Council voted to end PSO program.
1985, Jul – Interim fire and police chiefs named.
1985, Aug – Phase 1 of transition started, 62 PSOs transferred to fire.
1986, Jan – Phase 2 of transition started, 11 PSOs transferred to fire and other changes. PSOs still responding on Engines 80, 90, 100, plus PSOs still carry PPE in patrol cars.
1986, Jan – First fire and police academies since PSO program graduate.
1986, Jun – Separation of fire and police departments completed.

Long Version

The Proposals – 1965 to 1970

1965, Nov 1 – Council received proposal from city manager to merge fire and police duties. Create combined fire-police companies, equipped with fire trucks and patrol cars. Personnel would work eight hour shifts and be more productive. “There just simply isn’t enough work that must be done at a fire station to require 24-hour-a-day duty, except for the need of having men available to respond in case of a fire.” Council asked to study the plan, which is used in around 50 cities, including Winston-Salem, where a fire-police program was started in the 1950s. [DMH, 11/2/65]

1965, Dec 20 – Council rejected proposed merger. Ask manager to find alternate ways to strength fire and police. [DMH, 12/21/65]

1970, Jan – Major changes in fire department recommended by consultant’s study. They range from adding a third platoon, to shortened work week, to revised pay rates, to adding two aerial platforms. [DS, 1/10/70]

1970, Oct 1 – Fire-police merger proposal revived and recommended to council. Would take place over a number of years, with fire and police members volunteering to participate, plus new hires. To meet two goals, reduce the hourly work week of firefighters—which they have requested—and maintain the quality of fire protection without added expense. [DS, 10/1/70]

1970, Oct 22 – News reported around 110 firemen have signed a petition against the plan. The firefighter’s union is also opposed. [DS, 10/22/70]

1970, Oct 27 – News reported that the Durham Police Brotherhood passed a resolution voicing unanimous opposition to the merger. [DMH, 10/27/70]

Approved by Council – 1970

1970, Snapshot – Before the merger, DFD had these stations and units:

Sta 1 – E15 E13(county) Aerial 12(?) Rescue 11
Sta 2 – E20 E22(?) Service Truck
Sta 3 – E30
Sta 4 – E40
Sta 5 – E50
Sta 6 – E60
Sta 7 – E70

Also, numbering scheme for the engines was new, circa 1970 or 1971.

1970, Nov 5 – Council approved 11 to 1 to proceed with a partial merger. The hours-long special session included hours of “heated debate” and with a “packed audience of several hundred” people. Also, before the merger takes effect, there are numerous improvements needed for both fire and police, based on two recent consultant reports. [DS, 11/6/70]

1970, Dec 14 – Assistant City Manager Esai Berenbaum appointed as acting public safety director. His primary duty is organizing and implementing the new PS program. [DS, 12/14/70]

1971, Jan 4 – First PSO academy started with 28 men. Seven are former police, three are former fire, and eighteen others are new recruits. [DS, 12/30/71]

1971, Mar 1 – Jacob A. Jessup appointed head of PS program. Former PS director in Sunnyvale, CA. [DMH, 12/23/73]

1971, Apr 22 – First PSO academy graduated, 24 men with 16 weeks of training. Will staff Fire Station 5, four shifts of six men. [DS, 4/22/71] Also, eight newly graduated PS supervisors also sworn in. Total of 37 men in the new program. [DMH, 4/23/71]

First Public Safety Company – 1971

1971, May 1 – PS program started with first PS company activated at Fire Station 5, taking over for firefighters. Now PS Station 5. Two PSOs on duty with the fire truck at all times and two other PSO patrol beats previously assigned to uniformed police officers. PSOs are also assigned to police HQ, to perform regular patrol duties. PSOs work 42 hours per week, same as police officers. Four patrol cars are marked for public safety. [DS, 5/1/71]

1971, Aug 27 – Second PSO academy graduated with 26 new officers after 16 weeks of training. [DS, 9/8/71]

Second Public Safety Company – 1971

1971, Sep 7 – Second PS company activated at Fire Station 7, replacing firefighters. Now PS Station 7. With 18 members assigned, two PSOs at the fire station at all times, and two PSOs and a PSO supervisor doing patrol duty. They replaced firefighters. [DS, 9/8/71]

1971, Sep 14 – News reported that PS director Jacob Jessup unexpectedly resigned after six months. [DMH, 9/14/71]

1971, Sep _ – Esai Berenbaum named new PS director. He promised to be an administrator and let police and fire chiefs lead their departments. He also moved the director’s office from police HQ to city hall. [DMH, 12/23/73]

1971, Oct – Snapshot. During their first three months, PSOs at Station 5 responded with more than five men to each of over 30 fire calls. Why more than five? Because off-duty PSOs who were around the station would often accompany the apparatus to the call. For fire calls, PSOs in patrol cars responded directly to the scene. The first PSO on scene was “expected to survey the fire situation, perform rescue operations where needed and where possible.” And sometimes, they used the fire extinguisher in their patrol car to fight the fire. The PSOs carried helmets, coats, and boots in their patrol car, wearing the same equipment as firefighters. And if a PS company was called to a fire, that left no police protection in the district. If a police incident required an officer, an off-duty PSO was called, or substitute PSO sent from downtown police HQ. [DMH, 10/10/71]

Third and Fourth Public Safety Companies – 1972 to 1973

1972, Jan 1 – Third PS company activated at Fire Station 6 on Hope Valley Road, replacing firefighters. [DMH, 12/23/73]

1972, April 26 – PSO academy graduated with 28 officers, with 20 to be assigned to new PS Station 4 on June 1.

1972, Jun 1 – Fourth PS company activated at Fire Station 4 on Fayetteville Street, replacing firefighters. [DMH, 4/26/72]

1972, Jul 1 – Work week hours reduced to 56 hours for firefighters, previously 72 hours. [But wasn’t it 66 hours?] The new schedule is on/off for 14 days, then off for seven. The old schedule was on/off for 11 days, then off for three. [DMH, 7/8/72]

1972, Sep 23 – Snorkel delivered, city’s first aerial platform. [DS, 9/25/72]

1973, May 5 – PSO academy graduated with 20 new officers. Fifth company of PSOs trained under the new program. To share duties at Fire Station 3 before the end of the month, along with twelve firefighters. Once that was done, the city would have 120 PSOs and five PSO companies. [DS, 5/4/73]

Light Blue Patrol Cars – 1973 to 1974

1973, May – Fifth PS company activated at Fire Station 3 on Driver Street, replacing Engine 3. [DMH, 12/23/73] < But with a second fire company staffed firefighters? See 1975.

1973, May – News reports new PS patrol cars have been painted light blue instead of white. [DS, 5/9/73]

1973, May 29 – News reported that a $15M bond issue included $965,000 for a new training center, part of a 12-acre complex including a classroom building, a drill tower, and a maintenance shop. Currently, Durham firefighters and PSOs had to travel to Wilson to receive practical fire training. [DS, 5/29/73]

1973, Jun – Snapshot. The PSO program has 21 patrol cars and about six that operate downtown. They are equipped with both red and blue beacons. [DMH, 6/1/73]

1973, Sep – Voters approved bond issue that included $865,000 for a new fire training facility. [DMH, 12/26/73]

1973, Dec 23 – Snapshot. PSO officers earned 10 percent more than police and 25 per cent more than fire personnel. Esai Berenbaum was the PS director and oversaw all PSO, police, and fire functions. The city had 120 PSOs, with four of seven fire stations converted to PS stations. And 75 percent of fire and police patrols were now handled by PSOs. [DMH, 12/23/73]

1974, Jun 27 – News reported that PSOs would begin patrolling newly annexed areas of the city effective at midnight. The officers were assigned to Station 6 and Station 7. [DS, 6/27/74]

New Station 8 and New Station 9 – 1974 to 1977

1974, Nov 15 – PS Station 8 on Holloway Street activated at a newly competed station. Personnel were relocated from PS Station 4, where they were co-located with Engine 40. [DS, 11/16/74]

1975, Mar 13 – News reported that the city manager had proposed converting Fire Station 3 [entirely?] to a PS station, which would increase the number of law enforcement officers on patrol in east Durham. [But… wasn’t this already a PS station?] The proposal would reduce PS Station 8 from 20 to 16 people and establish a new 20-person PS company at Station 3. This would increase the number of PS patrols in east Durham from four to six. [DS, 3/13/75]

1975, Mar 17 – City council approved converting Fire Station 3 into a PS station. They also approved reclassifying some police and firefighter positions to PSO positions to increase patrol strength in East Durham. The proposal also required the purchase of two equipped patrol cars for $15,600. [DS, 3/18/75]

1976, May 7 – News reported on a recommendation for a series of council meetings this summer to review the PS program and discuss its future. The city manager also presented a proposal to convert the second engine company at Station 2 into a PSO unit to be stationed at PS Station 10 when it opened. He also suggested adding personnel at Station 2, so the new aerial platform that was in production could operate as a regular pumper. [DS, 5/7/76]

1976, Aug 27 – News reported that PS Station 9 was completed and almost ready for operations. But was not expected to open before February due to manpower shortages in both the PS department and the fire department. [DMH, 8/27/76, DS, 8/27/76]

1977, Feb 24 – PS Station 9 on Club Boulevard activated at the station that was completed last year. [DMH, 2/23/77]

1977 – By this time, PSO companies patrolled 94 percent of the city. [DMH, 9/17/79]

1977 – Aerial 21 placed in service with city’s second aerial platform. [DMH, 6/8/78]

New Training Center – 1977 to 1978

1977, Sep 11 – New PS academy facility dedicated. It included a classroom building, a drill tower, and a burn building. The $1.6M facility was already operating and was located beside PS Station 9. [DMH, 9/4/77]

1978, Jan 17 – News reported that PS director Barry Del Castilho recommended to a special city council committee that the PS program should be implemented full-scale, with all members of the PS department recruited and trained as PSOs. The public safety committee had convened for the first time in six months and the meeting was crowded with more than 70 PSOs, firefighters, city officials, and others. [DS, 1/17/78]

1978, May 24 – News reported the plan for a total PS organization was rejected by council committee. They instead voted to expand the role of the fire department. Recommended that the city’s two remaining fire stations continue to be staffed with firefighters, and that Station 3 in east Durham be converted from a PS station to a fire station and police duties at Station 3 transferred to Station 8. Decisions were made after several months of studying the PS program. They recommended the Station 3 conversion after observing the large number of frame houses in east Durham that needed additional fire protection. [DMH, 5/24/78, DS, 5/29/78]

1978, Jun 7? – Aerial 31 placed in service at Station 3 with city’s third aerial platform delivered. It was assigned with six firefighters who worked 24-hours shift. Eight PSOs were also trained to use the apparatus. Station 3 was also assigned 20 PSOs. Aerial 31 added a third aerial company to the city. [DMH, 6/8/78]

1978, Jun 17 – News reported that new Station 10 was ready for occupancy but would not open for at least a year, until the city received a federal grant to extend sewer lines into the area planned for annexation. [DS, 6/17/78]

Organizational Changes – 1979 to 1980

1979, Jan 26 – News reported that council committee approved creation of a PS department with authority over the police and fire departments. It also approved the creation of two large PS districts to supplant the eight current smaller districts. One division would include areas served by Stations 3, 4, 8, and 9, and the other Stations 2, 5, 6, 7. Each division would be commanded jointly by an assistant fire chief and a police captain. PS stations would be individually managed by PS lieutenants. Separate control would be maintained over Stations 1, 2, 3, under the administration of an assistant fire chief. And a new deputy fire chief position would replace the fire team commander and would manage the assistant fire chiefs. The recommended changes would be approved by council at their first meeting in February. [DS, 1/26/79]

1979, Feb 12 – New public safety system started, following council’s approval on Tuesday of hiring a new deputy fire chief. [DS, 2/12/79]

1979, December – PS director Barry Del Castilho left position to become assistant city manager. The vacant position wasn’t immediately filled. [DMH, 5/27/80]

1980, Apr 30 – News reported that the public safety committee said Station 10 should be activated with PSOs, even though it had not yet been annexed by the city. The completed facility was being used for storage. [DMH, 4/30/80]

1980, May 14 – News reported that the public safety committee recommended Tuesday in a 3-2 vote that the positions of police chief and fire chief be abolished. They recommended eliminating the two positions after the current police chief and fire chief retired. Both would be replaced by majors with supervisory powers and who would answer to the PS Director. [HS, 5/14/80]

New Director – 1980 to 1984

1980, May 23 – Police Major Talmadge Lassiter appointed new PS director after a four-month search. [DMH, 5/27/80]

1980, Dec 31 – Police Chief T. B. Seagroves retired. His position was not replaced. [DMH, 12/4/80]

1981, May 21 – News reports since the decision to replace PSOs with firefighters on a truck at Station 3 last year, the city has been unable to find enough PSOs who are willing to transfer to the fire department and serve as drivers. Since the city no longer hired people to be firemen or policemen, and instead trained them first as PSOs, any drivers must come from the ranks of PSO.

1982, Apr 02 – News reports that new Station 10 was still not activated but used as office spaces for the PS department. [DS, 4/2/82]

1983, Jun 16 – News reported that a second pumper was planned for Station 7. It would arrive within a few weeks. One or two PSOs would be assigned to the truck. [DMY, 6/16/83]

1983, Jun 30 – Fire Chief J. A. Letzing retired with 42 years of service. He was not replaced. [DMH, 6/30/83]

1983, July 7 – News reported that council was looking at proposed changes in police and fire protection. Changes were needed as the city budget provided money for a new fire truck, but no new PSOs to staff the truck. Proposed were (a.) transfer a fire company from downtown to Station 6, (b.) move two PSOs from Station 6 to Station 1, and make Station 1 a combination station, (c.) move the third PSO from Station 6 to Station 5, and (d.) move the fourth PSO from Station 6 to Station 7. The change would reduce the number of police patrols in the Station 6 area. [DMH, 7/7/83]

1984, Jan 25 – City Manager instructed council committee to bring back proposals in two weeks to hire an independent agency to evaluate if the PSO program has been successful and cost effective. [DS, 1/25/84]

Public Safety Station 10 – 1984 to 1985

1984, Jun 8 – PS Station 10 activated at station that was completed years earlier, but couldn’t open due to annexation delays. PSOs started answering police calls at 7:00 p.m. and fire calls at midnight. Four officers worked out of the station on each shift, one sergeant, two patrol officers, and a fire truck operator. The station was completed in the summer of 1978 and legal challenges to annexations delayed its opening. [DMH, 7/10/84]

1984, Dec 11 – News reports that the firm Cresap, McCormick and Paget was conducting the study of the PSO program. The $135,000 contract contained a deadline of March 31 for delivery. [DS, 12/11/84; DS, 3/16/85]

1985, Mar 30 – Draft of PSO study distributed to the study committee. It recommended eventually returning to separate fire and police departments and modifications to the PS program in the meantime. [DMH, 3/31/85; DMH, 4/15/85]

1985, March – Snapshot. PS department had 477 employees, with 277 PSOs, 67 police officers, 74 firefighters, and 59 civilians. Station 1 has only firefighters, Station 2 has both firefighters and PSOs, and the remaining stations have only PS companies. [DMH, 3/31/85]

1985, March – Snapshot. City fire apparatus and stations are:

Sta 1 – E13(county) E15 Snorkel 1 Rescue 11 Tanker 16
Sta 2 – E20 E22(PS) Aerial 21
Sta 3 – E30(PS) Aerial 31
Sta 4 – E40(PS)
Sta 5 – E50(PS)
Sta 6 – E60(PS)
Sta 7 – E70(PS) E71(PS)
Sta 8 – E80(PS)
Sta 9 – E90(PS)
Sta 10 – E100 (PS)

Public Safety Program to End – 1985

1985, Jun 18 – City council voted to return to separate police and fire departments. The vote was eight to five. Applause and cheers resulted from the audience of about 200 people. [DS, 6/19/85, DS, 6/19/85]

1985, Jun 19 – News reported that city council would consider a resolution to protect PSOs from retribution for supporting either side of the issue. [DS, 6/19/85]

1985, Jun 29? – PS director Talmadge Lassiter met with the city manager and assistant manager to begin transition planning. Among the challenges were (a.) three of the newest ten fire stations had no sleeping quarters and (b.) some fire apparatus would need to be modified to provide riding positions for a full crew. [DMH, 6/30/85]

1985, Jul 1 – Interim fire and police chiefs named, Nathaniel L. Thompson (fire) and Talmadge Lassiter (police). [DS, 7/1/85]

Transition Started – 1985 to 1986

1985, Aug 23 – First phase of transition started with 62 PSOs transferred to fire department. Also, fire management responsibilities were transferred from public safety lieutenants to fire battalion chiefs. [DMH, 1/7/15]

1985, Aug 29 – News reports that Engine 71 at Station 7 would be relocated. Was unstaffed and operated as second piece with Engine 70. [DS, 8/29/85]

1985, Sep 09 – City was “flooded” with applications for the newly re-established fire department, for entry-level firefighter positions. Starting pay $15,237. [DS, 9/9/85]

1985, Nov 4 – Fire Academy 1 started with 30 recruits selected from 150 prospective recruits, who were selected from 450 applicants. Ten-week academy. [DS, 10/24/85]

1986, Jan 13 – Second phase of transition started with (a.) 11 PSOs transferred to fire (b.) the upcoming graduation of 30 recruits from the fire academy and (c.) the placement of fire captains in all public safety stations. Public safety sergeants no longer had any fire responsibilities. Two PSOs still responded to fire calls with Engines 80, 90, 100, and PSOs would continue to carry PPE in their patrol cars for the next several months, in case they were dispatched for a fire. [DMH, 1/7/86]

1986, Jan 9 – First fire academy since separation graduated 28 new firefighters. [DS, 1/11/86]

1986, Jun 13 – First police academy since separation graduated 16 new officers. [DS, 6/13/86]

1986, Jun 16 – News reported that the two-stage separation of departments was set for completion at the end of the month. [DS, 6/16/86]

Abbreviations