Public Safety
Georgetown Police Department
“The Georgetown Police Department began in 1948 when the City Council established the positions of Chief of Police and two patrolmen. The first patrol vehicle was purchased that same year. Up until that period of time, a City Marshal answered all calls for police protection.
Today the Georgetown Police department has a full-time staff of 104 sworn police officers, and 33 civilian support staff. Each member of the department is committed to our vision - To be the standard in law enforcement through leadership, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.
Despite rapid population growth, Georgetown residents enjoy strong protection from a well-equipped, well trained, and highly dedicated Police Department. The current estimated population of the City of Georgetown is 85,423.
“Georgetown continues to be a safe place to live, work and play,” says Police Chief Cory Tchida. “The growth we have seen is unprecedented. The Georgetown Police Department strives to engage our community and create meaningful relationships within the community. The men and women of the Georgetown Police Department collaborate with the community, leverage technology, and dedicate themselves daily to maintain the safety that we all have come to expect and desire for our current residents and for all the new residents yet to come. Welcome to Georgetown where we stand as one commUNITY!”
Despite the phenomenal population growth, Georgetown has maintained a relatively flat crime rate over the years. According to Alarms.org, Georgetown was the third safest city in Texas for cities with a population above 50,000 and is ranked 24th overall in the state. Georgetown has a Part 1 (severe crimes that include murder, sexual offenses, aggravated assault, vehicle theft and arson) crime rate per 1,000 citizens that is well below the average for cities similar in size.”
Georgetown Fire Department
Georgetown Fire Administration and Support Services ensures that quality services are provided to the community by directing and supporting all divisions in the Georgetown Fire Department.
In order to ensure the efficient daily operations of the fire department, Georgetown Fire Support Services provides budget management, technical assistance, and interdepartmental coordination. Other administrative duties include: records requests, materials and equipment acquisition, payroll processing, as well as managing clerical duties and special projects for the department.
Since 1881, professional and caring emergency services have been provided to the City of Georgetown. The Georgetown Fire Department is one of the longest standing fire departments in the United States. The early years were volunteer-led, and in 1876, the Georgetown Fire Department was officially organized. The first firehouse was located at 816 South Main Street. The original building was a wooden structure that housed the Hook and Ladder company. The building was replaced in 1892 with a two-story limestone building that served as the Mayor’s office, City Council Chambers, City jail, & the Georgetown Water Company. This building still stands today at the intersection of 9th and Main Sts. (and still displays the original fire bell!)
Over the years, the department has evolved in size and capabilities to meet the emergency and rescue challenges of the community. Today, the department is composed of highly professional and dedicated members that continue to meet the increasing service demands for our community.
The Department responds to nearly 10,000 emergency incidents per year, which is typical for cities in size similar to that of Georgetown. In addition to combating complex fires, firefighters provide pre-hospital emergency medical care (EMS), rescue people trapped as a result of accidents and respond to hazardous material releases. Specialized rescue capabilities include high angle rescue, confined space, trench rescue, wildfire mitigation, dive/recovery, and swift water rescue.