Emergency Services

Vernon’s state-of-the-art emergency service agencies are specifically focused on meeting the needs of its business community and large manufacturing sector. The City’s police and fire departments have specialized equipment and capabilities that far exceed what is typical for a city of Vernon’s size, providing a uniquely safe environment for doing business.

Comprised of 59 sworn officers and 25 civilian employees, the Vernon Police Department boasts an average emergency response time of less than four minutes. All of Vernon’s police officers are specially trained to handle offenses unique to an industrial community and are outfitted with the latest technology. Using mobile computer terminals in their patrol cars, officers can query criminal databases from the field and connect seamlessly with the Department’s advanced communications center, which is fully integrated with its records management and E911 systems. With its specialized bicycle and K-9 units, the Vernon Police Department is able to carry out an effective community policing strategy.

Vernon is one of only 42 jurisdictions in the United States with a Class 1 rated fire department, which has its own dispatch center, four stations within the city’s five square-mile area and an emergency response time of less than three minutes. All 80 Vernon firefighters are specially trained and equipped to deal with industrial fires and hazards.
Vernon’s fire department is one of only 42 jurisdictions in the United States with a Class 1 rating—the highest possible distinction. The Vernon Fire Department has its own dispatch center, four stations within the city’s five mile area and an emergency response time of less than three minutes. All 80 Vernon firefighters are specially trained and equipped to deal with industrial fires and hazards.

Vernon’s police and fire departments serve as a major resource for the region, working closely with nearby public safety agencies and offering assistance to neighboring communities through mutual aid agreements. Vernon provides much more aid than it requests through these agreements, and its specialized emergency service agencies frequently lend their expertise to address major public safety issues throughout Southern California.