Nine of the Officers in the department are employed through a police levy that is decided by referendum in three year periods.
The Police Officers work in three shifts as follows:

The City of Martinsburg receives, on average, 50 calls per day. Several members of the Department are trained for bicycle patrol. This type of patrol allows the officers to apprehend criminals without being noticed by cycling undetected into such situations as drug deals in progress. Bicycle patrol also enables officers to maneuver from one call to another in a timely fashion than a patrol vehicle by the use of parking lots, alleys, etc. These officers are highly trained in bicycle safety and their own personal protection.

The City of Martinsburg has instituted a policy of Community Policing. Community Policing is a partnership between the police and the community working together to identify and address the root causes of public safety problems. Community Policing allows the officers to become a part of the neighborhood and residents to "join" the force. In Community Policing, the emphasis is on stopping crime before it happens. It also gives citizens more control on the quality of life in their community.

Recently the Martinsburg Police Department instituted a Citizens Academy. This is a nine week course which serves to increase citizen awareness of the functions of the Police Department by educating the public on topics relative to the role of the police officers in our community. Citizens are instructed on such topics as Criminal Law and Investigations, West Virginia Traffic Law, Use of Force and Crime Prevention.

For more information on the various Police Department programs you may call the
Martinsburg Police Department at (304) 264-2100.

Municipal Court is held on Monday and Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. for the sole purpose of arraignments. Hearings are conducted on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
For more information concerning Municipal Court matters you may the Municipal Court Cashier at (304) 264-2103.

The City of Martinsburg has two (2) fire stations which respond to fire and emergency situations within the City. The primary and largest station is the Martinsburg Central Fire and Rescue station located at 200 N. Queen Street. The second station is the Westphal Hose Company No. 5 located at 700 N. Queen Street. The two stations operate as one unit located at two different locations. If there is a fire or emergency, both stations respond.

The Fire Department currently employs a total of 28 full-time paid personnel. These employees include the following:

There are currently 9 Paramedics and 19 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).
The fire fighters work 56 hour work weeks with nine persons per shift. The schedule is as follows:

Work 1 day, off 1 day, work 1 day, off 1 day, work 1 day, off 4 days.

Besides fighting fires, the fire department provides additional essential services such as: ambulance service, rescue, inspections, investigations and fire prevention programs. The fire fighters are not only trained as fire fighters, but also as emergency medical technicians (EMT's).

The fire department averages ten calls per day, with all calls coming in through the Berkeley County Emergency Communications Center located in Martinsburg. The central fire station does have a back-up communications console in case of failure at the County level.

For more information on the Fire Department you may call the Martinsburg Fire Department at (304) 264-2111

The public health, safety, welfare and well-being of the citizens of Martinsburg demands the continuance, maintenance and improvement of the essential service of fire protection within the City. Because the public revenues of the City are not sufficient to provide adequate fire protection it is necessary that an annual fire fee be collected from each establishment throughout the City. The annual rate for each single family unit residence, whether or not occupied, is $55.00. However, if the bill is paid in full within twenty days of the billing date the resident receives an 18% discount.

The fee for fire protection services for business establishment owners and users is based on the total utilizing square footage determined by the City Building Inspector. The following is a breakdown of the rates:

West Virginia Dept. of Transportation

National Weather Service

West Virginia Department of Health and Resources

FEMA....Federal Emergency Management Agency

Fire Safe - Fire and Safety Directory

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