The Town of Big Stone Gap recognizes that protecting the lives of our citizens and their property is a basic service of Town Government. The Police Department, Fire Department, and the Rescue Squad each share in the responsibility of realizing this common goal. The members of these organizations are well trained, hard working, and are always a phone call away. The volunteer members of these organizations donated in excess of 7,500 hours of community service during 1999.

The Big Stone Gap Police Department works aggressively to make the Town of Big Stone Gap a safe community for its citizens and visitors. The following is a brief synopsis and highlights of activities of the Department for the year.

The Department is comprised of:

Chief of Police
1 Sergeant
3 Detectives
1 Lieutenant
10 Full Time Sworn Officers
1 Secretary
1 Records Clerk

1999 Highlights

Assault Cases......................................................... 91
Crimes Against Persons & Business................................195
Crimes Against Property.............................................59
Value of Stolen Property.....................................$114,480
Value of Stolen Property recovered.........................$43,775
Patrol miles driven.............................................174,745
Animal Control Complaints........................................2124
DUI Arrests.............................................................34
Accident Reports Worked......................................... 438
Traffic Violations....................................................253
Courtesy Citations...................................................155

The Big Stone Gap Police Department is involved in several community activities which include:

DARE - Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Neighborhood Watch Program
Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
Lonesome Pine Hospital Health Fair
DSI - Developmental Services Handicap Program
School Resources Officer
Class Action Classes (Legal Issues)

The Big Stone Gap Volunteer Fire Dept. is a local volunteer organization dedicated to the protection of life and property within the Department’s service area and to neighboring communities when needed. The Big Stone Gap Volunteer Fire Dept. is comprised of:

1 Part Time Chief
26 Volunteer Members

Two Locations:
Station #1- Shawnee Avenue
Station #2 - Big Stone Heights

Equipment:
1988 Boardman Pumper
1969 Dodge Mini Pumper
1974 Ford Pumper
1979 Dodge Pumper
1997 Freightliner
1998 Freightliner

The Fire Department answered 57 inside calls, and 36 outside calls, a total of 93 fire calls. In excess of 1,122 hours were expended by the volunteers through practices and fire suppression.

The average response time to an alarm is consistently between 2 - 4 minutes.

The Big Stone Gap Volunteer Fire Dept is involved in several community activities which include:

Fire education programs for pre-school programs and classes for grades K-6, Fire Evacuation and Education programs for businesses, and assisting in Town parades.

The Big Stone Gap Rescue Squad, Inc., is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the life and property within the squad’s service area and to neighboring communities when needed. The Big Stone Gap Rescue Squad is comprised of:

17 Senior members
4 Junior members
11 Associate members
4 Honorary members

Location: 
Shawnee Avenue

Equipment:
3 Advanced Life Supports
1 Heavy Duty Crash Unit
1 Light Duty Crash Unit

The squad answered 525 calls within Town limits, 412 calls in the County, for a total of 937 calls. The squad logged 5250 miles on calls in the Town limits and 8,240 miles in the County, for a total of 13,490 miles.

Stand-by at 4^th of July Festivities, Christmas Parade, and various other events. The squad hosted several EMS classes and certified over 150 people, which includes CPR, EMT, Shock Trauma Tech, and a Cardiac Tech. The squad also gave tours of the building to Pre-School & Primary School students.