Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Seaford public safety report: fire and EMS calls up in 2024; police report steady clearance rate
Summary
Vice Mayor Dan Henderson presented Seaford Volunteer Fire Department and Police Department summaries: 2024 saw increased fire and EMS activity and multiple significant incidents; police reported an 86% clearance rate and highlighted DUI and search-warrant activity.
Vice Mayor Dan Henderson presented annual summaries from Seaford’s fire and police departments on Jan. 14, saying 2024 was a busy year for both services and noting several significant incidents and personnel changes.
Fire and EMS: Henderson reported 1,180 fire-related calls in 2024 and detailed personnel and time metrics included in the chief’s report (total personnel hours and responding miles were provided in the packet). He said EMS recorded 4,716 calls and served about 3,725 patients. Henderson said Chief John Wilson characterized 2024 as the busiest year on record, noting a 9% increase in fire responses and a 13% increase in EMS responses compared with 2023.
Henderson listed recent significant incidents that required multi-unit response: motor-vehicle crashes with entrapment, multiple working residential fires (including Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 assists with neighboring departments), and a New Year’s residential fire on Jan. 1. He noted apparatus status (one engine out of service for leaking fluids) and that the new marine unit is in service. Henderson also described training and personnel milestones: several firefighters completed probation and training programs, and some members completed state fire-officer training and national EMS certification.
Police: Henderson summarized the department’s statistics included in the packet: 323 total crimes (18 felonies, 74 misdemeanors, 15 violations and 216 other incidents), an 86% clearance rate and 396 traffic contacts resulting in 141 citations. He reported 12 DUI arrests (four crash-related), 39 crashes, including one injury crash, five hit‑and‑runs (one on Nylon and Spruce) and one pedestrian incident on private property.
Henderson highlighted a notable criminal investigation that led to an arrest on Dec. 13 in a child‑endangerment case related to an infant with elevated THC levels; the mother was arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. He also noted community programs from the police department, including a Shop with a Cop event and holiday meal and gift distributions.
Council praised the departments for training and community work; no formal council action was required on the reports.
