Have you checked out the discussion forums on PSConnect.org yet? If not, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to connect with your peers. One thread you may want to check out is on mission statements. A member of the Antarctic Fire Department has been tasked with revising the department’s mission statement, and several people have shared their mission statements in response.

According to Laura Gravelle, senior communications coordinator, Antarctic Fire Department, the current Antarctic Fire Dept. mission statement is: “The Antarctic Fire Department is committed to providing fire and life safety services to persons and property on the continent of Antarctica. We will accomplish this mission by maintaining our equipment and training personnel to ensure a constant state of readiness. The Antarctic Fire Department is dedicated to serving Antarctica and its environment with professionalism and integrity.”

In general, a mission statement is a concise, written statement describing the purpose of a company or an organization. Many experts recommend that mission statements answer three questions: 1) What need do we exist to fill? 2) What are we doing to fill that need? and 3) What principles guide our work?

Have you reviewed your mission statement lately? Does it answer these questions? Mission statements should not be static, but living documents. Agencies should revisit their mission statement at least every five years or so to ensure that it is still relevant and remains a guiding force for the agency’s leaders.

Several other departments shared their agencies’ mission statements in the forum, including these from the Winnipeg Police Service, the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and the Fairfax County Department Public Safety Communications.

• “To provide a trusted lifeline between members of the community and the public safety services they require.” Courtesy of Cindy Kirby, Winnipeg Police Service.
• “To serve the public as the primary point of contact with the Fire Department: to ensure the proper collection and distribution of information, to ensure the proper distribution of resources, and to ensure the appropriate response of resources to mitigate emergency incidents in order to provide the maximum protection possible for the citizens of Atlanta.” Courtesy of Stanley Creech, lieutenant, Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.
• “We at the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications are the first of the first responders. We are committed to answering all 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls with professionalism, integrity and compassion while efficiently dispatching police, fire and emergency medical services. Customer service is essential to our success, so we treat each caller with empathy and respect. Our dedicated and highly trained professionals routinely offer life-saving medical instructions in addition to providing accurate public safety information. Fairfax County 9-1-1: always there, always ready.” Courtesy of Joseph Bui, quality assurance manager, Fairfax County Department Public Safety Communications.

To participate in this discussion thread or see what other topics are generating the buzz this week, visit www.psconnect.org and click on the Discussions tab.

About the Author
Keri Losavio has been the editor of Public Safety Communications since 2006. Contact her via e-mail at psceditor@apcointl.org.