Police and Fire Commission

City of West Allis Meeting Minutes Police and Fire Commission Thursday, January 20, 2022 6:00 PM West Allis Police Department 11301 W. Lincoln Ave. REGULAR MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Manthei called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm B. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Amy Heron, Mark Manthei and Danielle Romain Excused: Commissioners Kurt Kopplin and Lev Baldwin Also Present: Fire Chief Mason Pooler, Assistant Chief Jason Schaak, Deputy Chief Kyle Novak, Battalion Chief Michael Wright - Fire Department; Police Chief Pat Mitchell, Deputy Chief Chris Marks, Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher - Police Department; Bridget Morawetz, Recording Secretary C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the December 16, 2021 Regular and Closed Session Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Romain and seconded by Commissioner Heron to approve the December 16, 2021 Regular and Closed Session Meeting Minutes as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 3, Commissioners Heron, Manthei and Romain Nay: 0 City of West Allis Page 1 Printed on 2/18/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2022 D. FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. Operations Division Report Chief Pooler reviewed a fire that took place on 84th and Cleveland. He stated that this business had been citied numerous times for fire violations and the city was set to file formal court proceedings prior to the fire. He stated that the cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction which caused the piles of foam and fabric to ignite and spread throughout the business. Chief Pooler noted that the second fire in the report was at a chemical factory located on 118th street and was determined to be a chemical reaction caused by an electrical spark. Chief pooler noted that there were no injuries reported at either fire incident. Chief Pooler than reviewed briefly the mutual aid report as well as the benchmarks contained in Chief Scharfenberg’s report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 2. EMS Bureau Report Deputy Chief Novak reviewed one of the highlighted calls that was included in his report. He stated that the incident took place in a very public environment and upon arrival it was quickly determined that the patient had a stroke. He noted that the crews worked efficiently and quickly to get the patient ready to be transported within 15 minutes of on-scene arrival. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 3. EMS Revenue Report Chief Novak stated that improved report writing, increase in EMS responses and State Fair all played a role in EMS revenue trending above projected numbers. He noted that MVA revenue, however, is slightly below the projected number for 2021 The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 4. QPR Performance Report - December 2021 The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 5. QPR Quarterly Performance Report - October-December 2021 The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 2 Printed on 2/18/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2022 6. Training Bureau Report Chief Pooler stated that the training bureau conducted a debriefing session regarding mass-casualty incidents such as the Waukesha Christmas parade incident. He noted that officers discussed roles, assessments and assignments of personnel at such an incident. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 7. Community Risk Reduction/Support Services Division Report Assistant Chief Jason Schaak shared with the Commissioners that the department was awarded the Bureau of Justice Comprehensive Opioid Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program grant recently. He stated that this is a $900,000 dollar grant distributed over a 3-year timeframe and will be used to support the department’s ongoing efforts to curb the effects of the opioid epidemic. The Commissioners congratulated AC Schaak and the MIH team and the report was then placed on file. 8. Fire Prevention Bureau Report AC Schaak stated that over the course of 2021 the Fire Inspector team completed almost 5000 required inspections. He also stated that fire inspection fees were recently adjusted to align with surrounding municipalities fees. AC Schaak also thanked DC Michael Wright for his years with the Fire Prevention Bureau and stated that as of January 1, 2022, DC Wright made the transition back to 24-hour duty in the role of Battalion Chief. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 9. Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Bureau Report AC Schaak stated that members of the MIH team recently spoke at a health and wellness class at Nathan Hale High School and presented facts and information regarding drug and alcohol issues and presented distracted driver education. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 10. Fire Department Financial Report The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 11. Master Plan Performance Snapshot The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 3 Printed on 2/18/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2022 12. Request for approval: Approval of PFC agendas Chief Pooler requested approval that the Board authorizes the Fire Department’s Principal Secretary to create and publish an agenda prior to each meeting. The agenda shall include any item required by law or requested by any Commissioner, the Police Chief, or the Fire Chief. The agenda will still be sent to the President for review and editing as seen fit, with the understanding that other Commissioners, or either Chief may add, remove, or edit agenda items up to 24 hours prior to the meeting. A motion was made by Commissioner Heron and seconded by Commissioner Romain to approve the request as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 3, Commissioners Heron, Manthei and Romain Nay: 0 City of West Allis Page 4 Printed on 2/18/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2022 E. POLICE DEPARTMENT 13. Request for approval: Detective Eligibility List Chief Mitchell presented the Commissioners with a Detective eligibility list consisting of the top nine scoring candidates and stated that once approved, it will remain effective for two years. A motion was made by Commissioner Manthei and seconded by Commissioner Romain to approve the Detective eligibility list as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 3, Commissioners Manthei, Romain and Heron Nay: 0 14. Request for approval: Begin Patrol Officer recruitment process A motion was made by Commissioner Heron and seconded by Commissioner Romain to approve this request as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 3, Commissioners Manthei, Romain and Heron Nay: 0 15. Police Department Financial Report The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 16. Monthly Performance Report Chief Mitchell stated that December saw a number of personnel changes within the department. He noted that one officer resigned, and five officers retired at the end of December. Chief Mitchell stated that although the department welcomed six new police officers at the beginning of January 2022, the department is currently running four officers short and current sworn staffing is at 122 police officers. Chief Mitchell stated that the department continues to develop department members and shared with the Commissioners that four officers will attend a 10-week leadership course at NW University’s School of Police Staff and Command in April of 2022. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 17. Patrol Activity Report Chief Mitchell reviewed the Candy Cane Lane Initiative that included increased police presence on the weekends. He noted that the initiative included two marked squads cruising the area; conducted park and walks thru the neighborhoods and solved traffic issues and reckless driving within City of West Allis Page 5 Printed on 2/18/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2022 the vicinity. Chief Mitchell stated that grant funding dedicated to tavern and store alcohol compliance checks ended in 2020 however, it was determined that these compliance checks needed to continue and will now be funded out of the WAPD Patrol Budget going forward. Chief Mitchell briefly spoke to a couple of the incidents contained in this report as well. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 18. Communications Activity Report Chief Mitchell stated that there are background checks in the process of completion for two dispatch center new hires as well as an active recruitment process to hire three part-time dispatchers. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 19. Community Activity Report Chief Mitchell announced that Corporal Scott Poklasny was appointed as the new Community Liaison Officer replacing Corporal Rod Nelson who retired at the end of December. Chief Mitchell reviewed protocols that were implemented to ensure that the West Allis Christmas parade was a safe environment for all those in attendance. He noted that some of the safety measures included strategically placed concrete barriers throughout the route and SWAT resources available during the parade timeframe. He noted that these precautions will most likely be standard practice going forward. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 20. Criminal Investigations Unit Activity Report Chief Mitchell briefly spoke to an incident included in the report noting that it was a difficult scene for officers to come upon and very sad for the victim’s family members as their worst fears about a loved one had been confirmed. Chief Mitchell stated that West Allis PD has been assigned as the lead investigative agency for an incident that involved District #2 in Milwaukee in early December. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 21. Tavern Violation Report The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the City of West Allis Page 6 Printed on 2/18/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2022 report was placed on file. 22. Training Report Chief Mitchell stated that the five probationary officers are progressing well thru their training and shadowing steps with a few receiving additional coaching on their report writing skills. Additionally, Chief Mitchell stated that the department has hired three Community Service Officers who have completed their training and have been assigned to normal duty responsibilities. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. F. POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION 23. PFC Financial Report This report was placed on file. 24. Communication: PFC Rules and Regulations booklet All Commissioners requested a hard copy of the most recent PFC Rules and Regulations booklet. The recording secretary has been tasked with this request. 25. Communication: Chief Mitchell’s 2021 performance review at February 17, 2022 PFC meeting G. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 7:27 pm. City of West Allis Page 7 Printed on 2/18/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2022 All meetings of the {bdName} are public meetings. In order for the general public to make comments at the committee meetings, the individual(s) must be scheduled (as an appearance) with the chair of the committee or the appropriate staff contact; otherwise, the meeting of the committee is a working session for the committee itself, and discussion by those in attendance is limited to committee members, the mayor, other alderpersons, staff and others that may be a party to the matter being discussed. NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT The City of West Allis does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, age, marital or veterans' status, sex, national origin, disability or any other legally protected status in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs or activities. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NOTICE Upon reasonable notice the City will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services when necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in and to enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity provided by the City. LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STATEMENT It is the policy of the City of West Allis to provide language access services to populations of persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) who are eligible to be served or likely to be directly affected by our programs. Such services will be focused on providing meaningful access to our programs, services and/or benefits. City of West Allis Page 8 Printed on 2/18/2022