A public safety merger for us all

OUR OPINION
Published: March 8, 2008

It is always tough to impose change on institutions used to working a certain way.

But as time passes, change is not only a necessity, but an inevitability.

And so change is coming to the Manassas Volunteer Fire Company and the Greater Manassas Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Rather, it looks as if a combination is coming to the two and we think it is a good thing

In addition to combining the two departments, the city is going to find a chief to preside over them.

Currently the police chief, John J. Skinner, heads all three departments.

While we understand that police, fire and rescue are all part of “public safety,” we don’t see why the police chief should shoulder all the responsibility.

A chief to handle fire and rescue seems reasonable to us.

And as fire departments and rescue squads work in similar fields, often have comparable skills and have to cooperate, we think it’s a good idea to join them.

Consolidation and efficiency are a step in the right direction.

The city of Manassas, as most jurisdictions in the Northern Virginia area, is growing and become crowded.

As this happens, the public safety needs of city residents grow as well.

Along with consolidation, we hope that Manassas can find the funds to increase the personnel at the departments.

By combining and expanding the departments, we think the city can really make a great improvement in public safety — one of the primary responsibilities of local government.