Public Health & Safety Committee

TUMWATER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF VIRTUAL MEETING July 12, 2022 Page 1 CONVENE: 8:00 a.m. PRESENT: Chair Leatta Dahlhoff and Councilmember Angela Jefferson. Excused: Councilmember Peter Agabi. Staff: City Administrator John Doan, Police Chief Jon Weiks, Police Commander Jay Mason, Police Lieutenant Ken Driver, and Police Administrative Services Manager Laura Wohl. ORDINANCE NO. Police Chief Weiks reported the proposed ordinance would repeal TMC O2022-016, 2.40 – Police Reserves enacted in 1970 and last updated in 1996. The REPEALING TMC provisions enable the Police Department to have up to 20 volunteer police 2.40 - POLICE reserve officers. The department has not had an active reserve program in RESERVES: over 15 years. With the changing landscape in law enforcement, statewide reserve programs in the last 10 years have ended because of training requirements and risk management. To ensure the TMC is updated and current, the proposal is for authorization to move the proposed ordinance forward to the City Council for consideration to approve the repeal of TMC 2.40 in its entity. MOTION: Councilmember Jefferson moved, seconded by Chair Dahlhoff, to recommend the Council approved Ordinance No. O2022-016, Repealing TMC 2.40 – Police Reserves. A voice vote approved the motion. ACTIVE Police Commander Mason and Lieutenant Driver briefed the committee on VIOLENCE the City’s response to active violence events. RESPONSE: Police Commander Mason advised that active violence also includes active shooting events, which are some of the most violent incidents the country has experienced. All active violence incidents have evolved over the last 20 years. The Tumwater Police Department expends considerable resources in planning and training in response to active violence incidents. However, there is no perfect response to the issues of violence as they are all complex and challenging. The City of Tumwater has responded to several active violence events in the City. Incidents involving children at schools and at other places requires no margin of error as there are other types of incidents that occur with police response the community will afford some leeway; however, incidents involving children are not afforded any leeway or margin of error. Consequently, police officers take the duty very seriously and train extensively. Police Lieutenant Driver reviewed the department’s active shooter response, policies, training, and steps the department pursues to ensure police officers TUMWATER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF VIRTUAL MEETING July 12, 2022 Page 2 are ready and prepared to respond to any critical incidents. Current department policies call for planning for rapid response to crisis situations. Officers coordinate crisis response with the Fire Department and other local agencies that might be targets of critical incidents, such as active violence. The first response to a person involved in active violence where serious bodily harm is occurring and immediate response to the threat. Officers are trained in two basic principles consistent with national standards. The first is stopping the violence and the second is rendering aid to victims in need. Training by the department includes 10 hours each year for active shooter. Training is conducted to national standards and best practices for active shooter responses primarily through the National Tactical Officer Association (NTOA) and ALERT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response) training. The ALERT program completed studies and post action reports on recent active shooter incidents. Department officers train to those best standards. Part of the training each year involves training at different schools to afford an opportunity to learn about different school layouts. Participants walk through the schools and identify different Knox box locations (secure and mounted devices containing keys, access cards, and full size binders of information for use by a fire department during afterhours emergency calls) entry points, and lockdown procedures. Each school has a number of Knox boxes in different locations. School Resource Officers (SROs) receive training on lockdown procedures at all schools and review with schools the department’s response for a critical incident. A component of the training is in collaboration with the Tumwater Fire Department of fire personnel participating in some parts of the training as fire personnel enter schools and provide aid when needed. Police officers receive training in first aid and basic trauma care. Basic trauma care includes the application of tourniquets, chest seals, and wound packing until fire department personnel can respond. Personnel receive training in rifle and pistol applications under high stress scenarios using the firearms. External training examples include investment in supervisors and police officers attending NTOA Active Shooter Instructor training, NTOA Incident Command Training, and Advance Shooter Incident Management Course. One officer has attended the Combat First Aid Instructor course with focus on trauma care, and four members of the SWAT are scheduled to participate in advanced training in Active Shooter Response. In terms of equipment provided to officers, each officer is issued a rifle, has access to multiple breaching tools and shields, and the department has TUMWATER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF VIRTUAL MEETING July 12, 2022 Page 3 invested in providing supervisors with all routine equipment and shields that are stored in the department’s equipment room. Each officer is issued a mask casualty bag with medical equipment to treat multiple people during mass casualty incidents. Preventive measures include SROs providing instruction to schools on the department’s response. SROs train officers on the school’s response and lockdown procedures. Instructors provide training to other agencies desiring training in active shooter response. Councilmember Jefferson asked whether the department has completed any after action review of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting to ensure a similar situation does not occur at local schools through the absence of communication and leadership. Police Commander Mason said the Uvalde after action reports have only begun to be released. One of the challenges of that incident is the information released by the media or information shared by others that is either inaccurate or partially true. It is important for the department to wait for a valid after action report and conduct an evaluation at that time. The department has received one valid after action report to date. The report highlighted the timeline of the event as much of the response is currently under evaluation. The department shares all after action reports of critical incidents and reviews and discusses within the leadership and across the department on key lessons learned with officers and partners as all incidents never involve a single response of law enforcement but a massive response of law enforcement, emergency medical, and other response agencies regardless of the setting. All supervisors are equipped with breaching tools within their patrol vehicles. The equipment is an expensive investment but the department believed it was critical for active violence response and other emergencies. Chair Dahlhoff suggested the annual report to the community include a section on active violence response planning and training by the Tumwater Police Department. She and several other Councilmembers have been receiving questions from community members. Police Chief Weiks agreed that sharing the information is a sensible step; however, he cautioned as to how the information could be framed as each situation is different. He asked about the specific report that is released to the community. Chair Dahlhoff advised that the report is released in June documenting all data and all efforts in progress. The report could include information on training by the department and efforts by the department to address active violence incidents and partnerships the department has formed in response to those types of incidents. Chair Dahlhoff asked whether the department tracks training to local TUMWATER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF VIRTUAL MEETING July 12, 2022 Page 4 businesses and state agencies and whether there could be an opportunity to showcase and highlight those efforts. Police Chief Weiks advised that the department has not tracked training to other entities and he would avoid highlighting those entities that have received or not received training. Police Commander Mason noted that the department has provided training to all entities that have requested training. Extensive training has been provided to the schools, many local state agencies, and some retail organizations. Councilmember Jefferson inquired as to how establishments are aware of the training opportunities by the Tumwater Police Department. Police Chief Weiks said information is shared with local entities through officer efforts to build relationships with local establishments. One of the main priorities for officers is engaging with the business community and conducting business checks. Most major retailers and state agencies contact the department directly. Police Commander Mason shared that prior to COVID, the department engaged in outreach to small businesses through a local business owner who assisted the department develop and distribute a flyer to local businesses. No businesses took advantage of the offer for training. City Administrator Doan added that the City conducts an annual meeting with major retailers in the City with police, transportation staff, and City administration. The meeting serves as an opportunity to discuss issues or concerns. Chair Dahlhoff asked whether the police academy training includes any component of training on active violence response. Police Chief Weiks said he does not believe the academy offers specific active violence response training. Officers receive basic response training at the academy with other specific training provided by the department through the Field Training Program. Active violence response is also offered during the Citizen Police Academy dependent upon the level of interest. REGIONAL FIRE City Administrator Doan reported the Regional Fire Authority Planning AUTHORITY Committee is developing a proposal for the formation of a Regional Fire REMNANT Authority (RFA) to provide fire and emergency medical services in FUNDING: Tumwater and Olympia. The current proposal funds the RFA with three primary revenue sources: a $1.00/$1,000 property tax, a Fire Benefit Charge, and the Medic One services contract. The assumption is that the City would lower its property tax by the corresponding $1.00/$1,000. With this change, the City’s property tax rate for General Government would be approximately $1.26/$1,000 in 2022. The City currently spends approximately $1.13 in general property tax revenue on the Fire Department excluding revenue from Medic One. Formation of the RFA would result in TUMWATER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF VIRTUAL MEETING July 12, 2022 Page 5 an approximate $0.13/$1,000 “savings” to the City from the transfer of fire and emergency medical responsibilities to the RFA. The decision on how to invest these remnant funds is a decision of the City Council rather than the RFA. Options for consideration include: 1. Reduce the property tax by the 13 cents. 2. Bank some or all of the property tax. 3. Immediately utilize the 13 cents for any General Fund purpose. 4. Immediately utilize the 13 cents but limit the uses to public safety purposes. Staff recommends Option 4 because it provides for remnant fire costs the City is obligated to pay (LEOFF, Emergency Management, and the Fire Engine) and it would invest additional funding in improvements to public safety through the Police Department. The estimated revenue from $.13 is approximately $660,000 per year based on today’s property valuation. Some of the remnant fire obligations (over 12 years) include $3,185,000 for LEOFF retiree obligations, Police Radio Replacement of $1,526,000, Fire Engine #2 Payments of $408,000, and Emergency Management Staffing w/Olympia of $412,000 (regardless of RFA outcome). Remaining capacity from the $.13 could fund the following items:  Sustainable Police Vehicle Upgrades $785,000  Emergency Management Supplies/Training $177,000  Police Officer and Equipment $3,365,000  Additional Police Personnel (after 2031) $1,313,000 Councilmember Jefferson and Chair Dahlhoff supported Option 4. ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Chair Dahlhoff adjourned the meeting at 8:37 a.m. Prepared by Valerie L. Gow, Recording Secretary/President Puget Sound Meeting Services, psmsoly@earthlink.net