NEW ALBANY: PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE
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PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE
HOSPITAL WAIT TIMES IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY
Late in October, Mayor Jeff Gahan met with Baptist Health Floyd President Michael Schroyer to discuss ambulance services and 911 response times, among other items. Mayor Gahan and Mr. Schroyer had a very productive meeting, and early reports indicate that hospital wait times and ambulance drop-off times have returned to a much more-acceptable timeframe. At the meeting, Mayor Gahan asked Mr. Schroyer if additional ambulances would expedite services, however, Baptist Health Officials did not have any issue with ambulance availability inside the service area of Baptist Floyd in New Albany.
Baptist Health disputed AMR’s original 5 hour drop-off time claim. Regardless, the City of New Albany can now confirm that current drop-off times for ambulances at Baptist Health Floyd have been reduced to just about 15 minutes. New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey has been in contact with AMR Ambulance Service leadership and they also confirm that wait times have been reduced to under 15 minutes.
“I want to thank Baptist Health Floyd President Michael Schroyer for meeting regarding wait times and ambulance response times,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “We are very pleased that hospital wait times have returned to normal. We will continue monitoring the situation, and we look forward to moving past these temporary problems associated with COVID-19.”
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY NEEDS
Reports in the News and Tribune indicated that Floyd County officials are planning to renovate the former City-County Building located at 311 Hauss Square, but their plans don’t include space for the New Albany Police Department, even though the NAPD has been stationed there for decades.
According to statements made by Floyd County Building Authority Member Scott Stewart, “the Building Authority’s recommendation was to put the probation offices in the adjoining Frank C. Denzinger Criminal Justice Building, which is now occupied by the New Albany Police Department and the Sherriff’s Department.” Stewart also stated that it “would be appropriate for the county to consider getting the space back.”
Given these statements, Mayor Gahan, along with Councilpersons Bob Caesar and Jason Applegate (Public Safety Chair) recommended that the Public Safety Committee take a look at facility needs for the New Albany Police Department. New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey remarked at a recent City Council meeting that the Floyd County-owned space currently utilized by the Police Department is in disrepair and is not large enough to meet future needs of the New Albany Police Department. Public Safety Committee members began analyzing the need for a new Police Headquarters.
“A new Police Headquarters would give us the opportunity to improve, train, and equip our public safety officers with the tools and capabilities a modern police force requires,” stated NAPD Chief Todd Bailey. “As the field of policing continues to evolve, a new space would also allow New Albany to have a facility that can host and dispatch mental health experts and other specialty community-based needs.”
NEW PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS SWORN IN
The New Albany Police Department is currently hiring both experienced and new recruits! Two new police recruits were sworn in recently, and another two are expected to be sworn in later this week.
Are you interested in serving your city as a Police Officer? Applications are open through midnight on December 1st. Applications can be found at newalbanycityhall.com
