CHDS Thesis Series: The Contribution of Police and Fire Consolidation to the Homeland Security Mission

Vinicio Mata's thesis explores the idea of challenging a traditional organizational structure of public safety through the consolidation of police, fire and EMS into a single department to deliver public safety services to communities in an integrated fashion. In his thesis Mata, explored 3 different consolidation models that are currently found in the U.S.. His thesis discussed the benefits of working in a unified command - where day to day issues of interoperability and communication can be addressed in non-emergency situations - so at the time of a crisis, where an interdisciplinary response is required, those barriers have already been addressed and resolved.