Public Safety Committee

Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Minutes from date 2-3 Public Safety Committee - 17 Oct 2023 - Minutes 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Fire Department Radio Policies 4 Memo: Radio Policies b. Forcible Entry Prop 5 Memo: Forcible Entry Prop c. Automatic Aid Agreement: Roberts-Warren Fire & Rescue d. Ride along program 6 Memo-Ride Along Program e. Flock Safety 7 Memo: Flock f. Patrol Rifle Purchases 8-9 Memo: Patrol Rifle Purchases g. Taser Contract 10 Memo: Taser Contract 6. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS 7. ADJOURNMENT  Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes 2:00 PM - Tuesday, October 17, 2023 Council Chambers The Public Safety Committee of the City of New Richmond was called to order on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 2:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present: PRESENT: Ron Volkert, Thomas Weinmeyer, Bill O'Connell, Shawn Demulling, Greg Gartner ABSENT: OTHERS Craig Yehlik, Noah Wiedenfeld, Bailey Mitchell PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Bill O'Connell made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Greg Gartner seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bill O'Connell made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 15, 2023 meeting. Shawn Demulling seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS NEW ORDINANCE - SEXTING Chief Yehlik presented exploring adding a 'sexting' ordinance. It was explained that this ordinance would primarily be used by New Richmond Police Departments School Resource Officer, Aaron Anderson, and for cases similar to two juveniles sending nudity pictures and it not being distributed among others. Ultimately, citing this as a Municipal Court offense rather than a Circuit Court offense would come down to Officer Anderson, or other New Richmond Officers or Detectives investigating the individual cases. A motion was made to table the topic, but there was no second so the discussion continued. It was ultimately decided to have Chief Craig Yehlik obtain more information on the functionality of the ordinance, and bring the information to the next Public Safety Committee meeting. Shawn Demulling made a motion to approve the Chief exploring this ordinance more. Greg Gartner seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Public Safety Committee Meeting October 17, 2023 SQUAD CAR BIDDING Chief Yehlik and committee members discussed the agency going out for bid on two new squad cars. Two of the departments current squad cars would be traded in and the department would see would kind of squad cars, trucks, SUVs would be available for what price. Bill O'Connell made a motion to approve the department going out for bid on possible squad cars. Greg Gartner seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS Chief Yehlik shared information about the drug take back program in the city. Discussion of drop box locations and additions, as well as different resources were shared. The committee spoke of the sign ordinance in the city. Congrats to the City Administrator, Noah and his wife, on their new addition to the family! ADJOURNMENT Shawn Demulling made a motion to adjourn at 2:40 pm. Greg Gartner seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Public Safety Committee Meeting October 17, 2023  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Sarah Reese Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 20 Feb 2024 Subject: Radio Policies BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The New Richmond Fire Department routinely reviews its current policies for legally required, safety and best practice standards. Upon review, the Fire Department recommends review of two policies for the Public Safety Committee, both pertaining to radios. Staff will review the policies with the Committee for recommended approval.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Noah Wiedenfeld Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 20 Feb 2024 Subject: Forcible Entry Prop BACKGROUND INFORMATION: One of the fire department's 2024 capital projects is a forcible entry prop, to be used for training purposes . The estimated project cost for budgeting purposes was $15,000. Staff researched various products on the market and received quotes training props from two different vendors which they felt would meet the needs of the Department: East Coast Rescue Solutions: $9,090.00 Firehouse Innovations: $11,755.00 The forcible entry prop from East Coast Rescue Solutions has also been used by Northwood Technical College in the past for instructional purposes, so some of our firefighters have used this prop in the past and were impressed with its quality and functionality. Staff will provide some additional information about the door entry prop at the Public Safety Committee meeting. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommend proceeding with the quote from East Coast Rescue Solutions in the amount of $9,090.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 20 Feb 2024 Subject: Ride along program BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The New Richmond Police Department has a long standing policy to only allow citizen ride a longs once every quarter for civilians. We have been out recruiting and trying to foster the best candidates for recruitment within our agency. One of the many ways that potential officers are making sure that our agency is the right fit for them is doing multiple ride a longs with different officers. Many potential hires have been turned away as they are only allowed to ride once every three months. RECOMMENDATION: The New Richmond Police Department would like to change the language in the policy to allow ride a longs at the discretion of the Chief of Police or designee so we can monitor ride a longs and makes sure potential hires have the opportunity to ride with various officers on various shifts but still maintain control so it is not being abused. We believe this is a tremendous recruitment tool that has been underutilized in the past. We would recommend adding language under 404.2.1 (C) Unrestricted  #4 Current applicants or people interested in working at the New Richmond Police Department may ride with multiple officers at the discretion of the Chief of Police or designee.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 20 Feb 2024 Subject: Flock Safety BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The New Richmond Police Department continues to look for ways to be more efficient and effective within the community. Flock Safety is being used by many agencies in the area and they are having tremendous success solving crime, finding missing persons and recovering stolen vehicles. Staff would like to give an overview of success stories and see if there is interest in having Flock Safety service the New Richmond Community. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to work with Flock safety to provide input on setting up a geographic fence around the city and costs associated with purchase, storage and maintenance. This would be planning for the 2025 budget.  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 20 Feb 2024 Subject: Patrol Rifle Purchases BACKGROUND INFORMATION: PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to establish consistent standards for the purchase of a patrol rife by patrol officers of the New Richmond Police Department. While the New Richmond Police Department established a patrol rifle program several years ago providing a patrol rifle in each patrol vehicle, it is recognized that some officers prefer to purchase their own patrol rifle due to several reasons, including hand dominance, eye dominance, and overall firearm comfort. The City recognizes the upfront cost of purchasing a patrol rifle can be expensive and wishes to offer patrol officers the ability to repay the purchase over time. ELIGIBILITY: This policy covers all non-probationary, full-time patrol officers, in good standing, of the New Richmond Police Department. PROGRAM GUIDELINES: This policy only applies to approved agency rifles, accessories, and outfitting equipment. Patrol rifles purchased under this policy shall include only approved accessories and outfitting equipment including, but not limited to, iron sights, tactical sling, tactical gun mounted light, tactical optics, and a minimum of two 30-round magazines. PROGRAM PROCESS Qualifying employees shall submit an “Officer Rifle Program Order Form” and obtain approval before purchasing. Upon approval, the rifle shall be purchased following the City purchasing policy. The City shall pay for the actual cost of the rifle and accessories. The employee shall repay the actual cost of the rifle less $10.00 through payroll deductions. The actual cost of the rifle shall be repaid within the same calendar year as the purchase through equal payroll deductions. For example, the cost of the rifle and accessories is $1,800 less the $10.00 holdback equals $1,790.00 due from the employee if only 20 pay periods remain in the year the deduction per paycheck will be $89.50. Employees may also utilize up to $300 of their uniform allowance in the year of purchase to offset the cost of the patrol rifle and/or accessories. ADDITIONAL CRITERIA: The rifle is owned by the New Richmond Police Department; however, upon retirement or departure from the agency, the officer is responsible for paying the final $10.00 to the City and shall immediately register the firearm to themselves with a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) at the officer’s expense. Employees that participate in this program may purchase a new rifle and equipment every ten (10) years unless the rifle is damaged, or the Range Master, Chief of Police or designee determines the rifle needs to be replaced. Officers may then pay the $10.00 fee and use the rifle for a trade-in on a new one or keep the old one upon properly registering the firearm with an approved FFL. The officer then may purchase a new rifle with payroll deductions as described under the program process. Accessories including, but not limited to, iron sights, tactical slings, tactical gun mounted light, tactical optics, and magazines may be replaced at any time due to a malfunction or end of life. The annual uniform allowance may be utilized for accessory purchases. Page 2 of 2  MEMO Prepared for: Public Safety Committee Staff Contact: Craig Yehlik Meeting: Public Safety Committee - 20 Feb 2024 Subject: Taser Contract BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In 2019 the New Richmond Police Department entered into a five year lease program with Axon, the company that makes Taser’s, our current electronic control device. The lease is up in July of 2024 but we can continue to keep the Taser X2 that we have. New Richmond Police Department currently has five Taser X2’s in service. Taser has upgraded two separate times in the 5 years to an X7 and now the most current model is an X10. Taser is still offering a five year lease program but costs have gone up considerably. We feel that this is a necessary tool and that the PD should upgrade to the X10 but also increase the number of Tasers available to staff to eight units, as we are adding positions within the agency and there are times that staff do not have a Taser available to them for court, transports and all call activities such as parades, NNO and school functions. RECOMMENDATION: This is simply an update and notifications of potential increased costs. We are currently starting a new line item budget for “less lethal” equipment which this would fall under.