In 2003, the sheriff and county commission of Broward County, FL agreed that first responders should join forces and unify the command structures of public safety and fire rescue under the sheriff’s office. This Florida county decided that the best way to protect the public is through a partnership between law enforcement and fire rescue. Even though fire and rescue will be managed by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), Broward County Fire and Rescue (BCFR) will remain a separate and distinct discipline within the sheriff’s office. A new accountability process called FIRETRAC will track response times, customer satisfaction, equipment maintenance, and overtime usage. The long-term goal is to improve efficiency and save tax dollars while consistently delivering high-quality service to the community. This partnership is viewed as sound policy that is grounded in the saving of lives and property and based on what is best for the safety and security of the community.