MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER BURT AARONSON

April 5, 2007

Most of you are familiar with the County’s Emergency Management Division especially as it relates to hurricanes. However, you may not know that the Division is part of the County’s Public Safety Department. The Public Safety Department is responsible for planning and managing the operations of public safety programs designed to meet the needs of our residents. In addition to the Emergency Management Division, the Department coordinates the activities of the Animal Care & Control Division, Consumer Affairs Division, Victim Services Division, Youth Affairs Division and Justice Services Division.

Animal Care & Control has been a division of Public Safety since 1974. In 1980, the Division became fully credited by the Humane Society of the United States. It was the first agency in the southeast and the second in the entire country to achieve this distinction. Some of the services that are offered to county residents include: animal law enforcement, pet adoption, pet identification with microchipping, rabies vaccinations, the rescue of abused domestic animals and livestock and low-cost spaying and neutering for dogs and cars on the Spay Shuttle, a mobile home clinic.

Consumer Affairs assists residents and visitors with advice and information about unfair, fraudulent or deceptive practices of businesses and landlords. It regulates taxi cab, limousine, local moving companies and non-consent towing companies. Investigators and Compliance Officers are available to respond to consumer inquiries. Business activities are monitored for illegal, unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Victim Services assists crime victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, survivors of homicide and general crimes. Its Mission Statement includes the following: "We believe that the criminal justice system and allied agencies must ultimately be measured by their treatment of victims, for that goal will surely best serve society."

Youth Services provides families with the highest quality in home counseling, therapy, residential care and psychological services in order to divert "at risk" children from the Juvenile Justice System. It is committed to offering a level of care to those families who need significant professional support in their efforts to develop healthy functioning children. Its highest goal is maintaining and strengthening the integrity of the family.

Justice Services provides professional assistance to both the Justice System and the citizens of the County. The programs are age and issue specific. Services are specific to legal issues impacting children, teens, adults and the elderly. Programs include mentoring, monitoring, arbitration, guardianship, counseling, education and psychological testing and evaluation.

Whether it is a hurricane, an abandoned animal, a fraudulent company, a crime victim or an "at risk" child, the County’s Public Safety Department works hard to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Palm Beach County. Please contact my office if you want to contact any of these divisions. My staff will be happy to assist you.