Police and Fire Commission

City of West Allis Meeting Minutes Police and Fire Commission Thursday, August 18, 2022 6:00 PM West Allis Fire Department 7332 W. National Ave. REGULAR MEETING AND CLOSED SESSION A. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Manthei called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm B. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Amy Heron, Kurt Kopplin, Lev Baldwin, Danielle Romain and Mark Manthei Also Present: Police Chief Pat Mitchell, Deputy Chief Chris Marks, Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher - Police Department; Battalion Chief Michael Wright, Deputy Chief Kyle Novak, Firefighter Quinn Dombrowski; Bridget Morawetz, Recording Secretary C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the July 21, 2022 Regular and Closed Session Meeting Minutes as well as the July 25, 2022 and July 27, 2022 Special Meeting and Closed Session Meeting Minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Romain and seconded by Commissioner Heron to approve the July 21, 2022 Regular and Closed Session Meeting Minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Kopplin and seconded by Commissioner Heron to approve the July 25, 2022 and July 27, 2022 Special Meeting and Closed Session Meeting Minutes. The motions carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Kopplin, Baldwin, Romain and Manthei Nay: 0 City of West Allis Page 1 Printed on 9/21/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes August 18, 2022 D. POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. Request for approval: 2023 Operating and Capital Budget Chief Mitchell submitted and discussed the department’s 2023 budget requests with the Commissioners. Chief Mitchell stated that overall, the budget will remain static in comparison to the 2022 budget numbers. He stated that the department’s technology budget will be increased by $25,000, however, this money is simply being transferred from an IT budget line to Police. This is at the request of IT for departments to handle the their own tech products and tech maintenance related purchases. Chief Mitchell reviewed with the Commissioners a proposed 10-year contract with Axon that would benefit the city with locked in costs to include: Ø Body worn cameras; Ø Fleet (in squad videos); Ø Evidence Rooms; Ø Taser replacements; Ø Unlimited cloud-based evidence storage; Ø Dictation Software; Ø Upgrades and software Chief Mitchell stated that Common Council has yet to review and approve this request, but approval at the PFC level is needed to present to the Council. Chief Mitchell then reviewed the remaining items included in his 2023 budget requests. A motion was made by Commissioner Baldwin and seconded by Commissioner Kopplin to approve Chief Mitchell 2023 Budget Requests as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioner Heron, Manthei, Baldwin, Romain and Kopplin Nay: 0 2. Request for purchase approval: Two (2) Police Investigative Vehicles Chief Mitchell presented a request to purchase two (2) police investigative vehicles. Chief Mitchell stated that funding would come from carry-over capital money from 2021 and supplemental funding from the asset forfeiture account. A motion was made by Commissioner Kopplin and seconded by Commissioner Heron to approve the purchase as presented. City of West Allis Page 2 Printed on 9/21/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes August 18, 2022 The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Baldwin, Romain and Kopplin Nay: 0 3. Request for approval: Update to Records Retention Policy 12.3.3 Chief Mitchell stated that change to this policy is regarding the retention of surveillance videos. He stated that currently, all monitoring and surveillance videos are retained for 120 days and he is requesting that those recordings that show no discernable incidents be discarded after three (3) days from the creation/event. A motion was made by Commissioner Romain and seconded by Commissioner Heron to approve this request as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Baldwin, Romain and Kopplin Nay: 0 4. Discussion: Over-hiring parking checkers by one due to upcoming retirement Chief Mitchell stated that in anticipation of a retirement in November of a day-shift parking checker, he would like to approach the Common Council with a plan to over-hire in this position by one person. He stated that the overlap would not be extensive time-wise and due to other vacancies within the department, the current salary budget would be able to absorb this temporary overlap cost. The Commissioners were in agreement with Chief Mitchell. 5. Police Department Financial Report Chief Mitchell presented the financial report and there were no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. 6. Monthly Performance Report Chief Mitchell discussed the current sworn staffing levels indicating that with four recruits in the final stages of their background checks, and barring any issues, the department will be at full sworn staff level by the end of the year. Chief Mitchell also spoke to the continuing issues and problems regarding the Liberty Heights area. He stated that a neighborhood meeting had been held on July 8th and the department is currently working on additional neighborhood meeting dates to include Liberty Heights and the Rainbow park areas. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 3 Printed on 9/21/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes August 18, 2022 7. Patrol Activity Report Chief Mitchell reviewed a fugitive from justice case as West Allis officers were involved in the apprehension of a suspect in a homicide committed in Aurora, IL. Chief Mitchell stated that the suspect is currently awaiting extradition back to Illinois. Chief Mitchell stated that the Hwy 100 Initiative went into effect on July 3rd and has been focused on reducing loitering as well as speeding and reckless driving. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 8. Communications Activity Report Chief Mitchell did not speak to anything contained in the Communications Activity Report and it was placed on file. 9. Community Services Bureau Report Chief Mitchell stated that the department’s Neighborhood Specialists continue to tackle issues within the city to increase safety and the overall environment for West Allis citizens. He noted that most recently, neighborhood specialist Mark Bykowski assisted with the reinforcement of a front door to ensure the safety of the occupants. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 10. Criminal Investigations Unit Activity Report Chief Mitchell stated that a suspect was identified, arrested and charged in the May homicide of 19-year old Navy sailor Phoenix Castanon. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 11. Tavern Violation Report Chief Mitchell did not speak to anything contained within the Tavern Violation Report and it was placed on file. 12. Training Report Chief Mitchell discussed the active shooter exercise that took place at Parkway School Building. He stated that this training involved real-life, staged victims as well as several mannequin victims set-up throughout the building. Chief Mitchell said all officers involved in the training exercise did an excellent job and additional training will be conducted during the Fall 2022 in-service. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 4 Printed on 9/21/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes August 18, 2022 E. FIRE DEPARTMENT 13. Operations Division Report Battalion Chief Michael Wright presented the Operations Report to the Commissioners and reviewed the necessary benchmarks included. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 14. EMS Bureau Report Deputy Chief Novak stated that EMS calls for 2022 are showing a slight increase compared to same time last year. He went on to review the highlighted calls included in his report as well comment on his noted benchmarks. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 15. EMS Revenue Report DC Novak noted that EMS revenue continues to perform above average and is expected to continue that way for the remaining of the year. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 16. Training Bureau Report BC Wright stated that WAFD participated in the active shooting training exercises with WAPD at the Parkway School Building. He stated that the exercise provided valuable information regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the department’s current active shooter response. BC Wright also noted that crews had another opportunity to practice forcible entry, deployment of ground ladders and vertical ventilation on a condemned building located on Arthur Ave. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 17. QPR Performance Report - July BC Wright did not speak to anything on this report and it was placed on file. 18. Community Risk Reduction/Support Services Division Report BC Wright stated that improvement of PulsePoint numbers continues to be challenging but the CRR division is working to improve the number of people downloading and using the app. City of West Allis Page 5 Printed on 9/21/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes August 18, 2022 BC Wright stated that the department has been attending community involvement functions again and most recently attended the Liberty Heights Community Event. BC Wright stated that the event was well-attended. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 19. Fire Prevention Bureau Report BC Wright stated that the false fire alarm fee was increased in 2022 to $400 and is assessed to those properties that incur three or more false fire alarm instances. He also noted it is important that inspections are done yearly so the property owners keep up to code and replace safety items on a regular basis. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 20. Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Bureau Report BC Wright did not highlight anything contained in the MIH Bureau Report and the report was placed on file. 21. Fire Department Financial Report BC Wright did not highlight anything contained in the financial report and the report was placed on file. 22. Master Plan Performance Snapshot BC Wright did not highlight anything contained in the Performance Snapshot Report and the report was placed on file. 23. Communication: Notification of Firefighter Resignation BC Wright stated the Firefighter James Hauser resigned from the department effective August 1, 2022. F. POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION 24. PFC Financial Report The Commissioners did not have any questions or concerns regarding the PFC financial report. 25. Closed Session: Discussion on probationary officers’ field training performance reviews City of West Allis Page 6 Printed on 9/21/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes August 18, 2022 G. CLOSED SESSION PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners of the City of West Allis will, upon conclusion of open session, consider and vote on a motion to convene in closed session at said time and place to discuss the probationary officers’ field training performance reviews and to take such further action as may be necessary and appropriate in this matter. A closed session for the above purpose is authorized pursuant to the provision of Section 19.85 (1)(c) of the Wis. Stats., which authorizes a governmental body, upon motion duly made and carried, to convene in closed session for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility Immediately upon completion of the closed session, the Board of Police and Fire Commission will reconvene in open session at said time and place to consider any other matters on the agenda. On a motion made and seconded, the meeting convened into closed session at 7:33 pm. On a motion made and seconded, the meeting reconvened into open session at 8:00 pm H. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:01 pm. City of West Allis Page 7 Printed on 9/21/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes August 18, 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 9/21/2022