Commissioner

 The Commissioner of Public Safety is the Department Head of the Department of Public Safety and is responsible for the overall operation of the Police Department, the Fire Department, Code Administration, Animal Control, and Parking Enforcement. The Commissioner of Public Safety is also responsible for emergency planning.

The Commissioner must develop, manage, implement and periodically update the plans and submit them to the City Clerk’s office for public review. These include Strategic Traffic Safety and Enforcement Plan, Strategic Emergency Medical Services Plan and Strategic Emergency Management Plan.

Additional Responsibilities
As Head of the Police Department, the Commissioner of Public Safety is responsible for ensuring the preservation of peace and good order, the enforcement of laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the City, New York State and the United States, appointment of a Chief of Police to have immediate direction and control of the Police Department subject to the policies, rules, regulations and orders established by the Commissioner of Public Safety and providing adequate training of all police personnel.

As Head of the Fire Department, the Commissioner of Public Safety is responsible for ensuring that applicable provisions of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building code are implemented and to enforce the relevant fire codes and regulations, providing adequate training of all firefighter personnel and resources to fight and control fires, handle hazardous materials incidents and provide emergency medical care at accidents and incidents, and the appointment of the Fire Chief.

As Head of Code Administration, the Commissioner of Public Safety is responsible for enforcing and administering the provisions of the City’s laws, codes, rules and regulations specified in Chapter 8 of the City Charter.

As Head of Animal Control, the Commissioner of Public Safety is responsible for performing duties as may be requested by the provisions of laws of the State of New York and the ordinances of the City in relation to animal control.

As Head of Parking Enforcement, the Commissioner of Public Safety is responsible for compliance to the rules and ordinances of the City and applicable provisions of the laws of New York State in relation to parking.

In addition to these executive duties, the Commissioner has legislative responsibilities as one of five voting members of the Saratoga Springs City Council.