Police and Fire Commission

City of West Allis Meeting Minutes Police and Fire Commission Thursday, April 18, 2024 6:00 PM West Allis Fire Department 7332 W. National Ave. REGULAR MEETING A. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Manthei called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm B. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Mark Manthei, Kimberly Cosby, Michelle Sutinen and Kurt Kopplin Excused: Commissioner Danielle Romain Also present: Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher, Deputy Chief Chris Marks - Police Department; Fire Chief Mason Pooler, Assistant Chief Armando Suarez Del Real, Deputy Chief Michael Wright, Interim Deputy Chief Joseph Breznik, Firefighter Quinn Dombrowski - Fire Department; CAO Rebecca Grill - City of West Allis; Bridget Morawetz, Recording Secretary C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the March 21, 2024 Regular and Closed Session Meeting Minutes as well as the April 9, 2024 and April 10, 2024 Special Meeting and Closed Session Meeting Minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Kopplin and seconded by Commissioner Sutinen to approval all the minutes as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 4, Commissioners Manthei, Cosby, Sutinen and Kopplin Nay: 0 City of West Allis Page 1 Printed on 5/17/2024 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes April 18, 2024 D. POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. Communication: Final eligibility lists for the position of Police Officer DC Fletcher presented final eligibility lists for the position of police officer to the Commissioners. He stated that, as in the past, there will be two eligibility lists. He stated that one list contains those candidates with current law enforcement experience and the other lists those candidates without previous law enforcement experience. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 2. Police Department Financial Report DC Fletcher did not speak to anything contained in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. 3. Monthly Performance Report DC Fletcher highlighted several topics included in this report. He noted that assaults on police officers in 2024 have almost succeeded the 2023 number. He stated that to date, there have been eight confirmed assaults which is only three less than the entire year of 2023. DC noted that development of department members continues to be a department goal and most recently two members received certifications as Vehicle Contact Instructor and Physical Readiness Test Assessor. DC Fletcher noted the continued use and success of the flock cameras placed around the city; stating that they have proven to be an effective tool for criminal investigations and curbing reckless driving. The Commissioner had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 4. Patrol Activity Report DC spoke to an incident included in the report regarding a missing, non-verbal autistic child. He stated that with the assistance of K9 Shadow and a drone, the child was located and returned safely to his parents. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 5. Communications Activity Report DC Fletcher did not speak to anything contained in the report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 2 Printed on 5/17/2024 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes April 18, 2024 6. Community Services Bureau Report DC Fletcher did not speak to anything contained in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. 7. Criminal Investigations Unit Activity Report DC Fletcher discussed a strange road rage incident that occurred on Lincoln Avenue. He stated that after a verbal altercation, one of the drivers pulled a gun and shot at the other driver’s car three times. DC Fletcher stated the offender was arrested the same day and footage from the offender’s own vehicle camera implicated him in the road rage incident. DC Fletcher noted that the offender was charged with numerous infractions to include a count of second degree recklessly endangering safety. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 8. Tavern Violation Report DC Fletcher stated that there were a few altercations at various bars during the month of March. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 9. Training Report DC Fletcher stated that except for one recent resignation of a probationary officer, all other probationary officers continue to move through their field training on a satisfactory basis. The Commissioners had no other questions or concerns and the report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 3 Printed on 5/17/2024 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes April 18, 2024 E. FIRE DEPARTMENT 10. Operations Division Report Chief Pooler stated that fire and EMS runs were up slightly to date compared to 2023 and we received more mutual aid in March than gave. Chief Pooler reviewed the fires highlighted in this report. He stated that all were small in nature and very quickly extinguished. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 11. Bureau of Training and EMS Report DC Wright reviewed the highlighted calls included in this report. He explained that the crew transported a pregnant patient who was having contractions and quickly had her baby upon arrival to the hospital. He noted that a week later, the crew assisted the same patient again as she was experiencing a life-threatening event related to post-pregnancy issues. The patient was transported safely and has continued to recover successfully. He also highlighted the second call, stating that after responding to an MVA, Firefighter Josh Fisher took it upon himself to change the tire of an otherwise drivable car thus saving the driver vehicle towing costs and other costs that can be incurred at such a time. Lastly, DC Wright stated that for March, the training department began the annual SCBA confidence course training exercise. He stated that this training simulates real fire scenarios that firefighters must be able to navigate. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 12. MVA Revenue Report DC Wright did not speak to anything contained in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 13. QPR Performance Report DC Wright did not speak to anything contained in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 14. Community Risk Reduction/Support Services Division Report DC Armando Suarez Del Real stated that at the 2024 Wisconsin Stroke Coalition Steering Committee meeting, the department was recognized for exceptional care for stroke patients and received an award for exceeding industry standards. City of West Allis Page 4 Printed on 5/17/2024 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes April 18, 2024 He then reviewed the benchmarks that were included in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 15. Bureau of Fire Prevention and Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Report DC Suarez Del Real stated that the MIH team partnered with the Milwaukee County Fall Prevention Coalition recently and presented fall prevention training to various senior groups within the community. He stated that the goal of this program is to educate seniors on fall risks, maintaining independence and checking for safety where they live. He then reviewed the benchmarks that were included in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 16. Fire Department Financial Report Chief Pooler did not speak to anything contained in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or concerns and the report was placed on file. 17. Master Plan Performance Snapshot Chief Pooler did not speak to anything contained in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or concerns and the report was placed on file. 18. Request for approval: 2024 State Fair BLS Contract Chief Pooler presented the 2024 State Fair BLS contract to the Commissioners for approval. He stated that discussion with the State Fair Police about extending the contract for more than one year was not accepted. A motion was made by Commissioner Cosby and seconded by Commissioner Sutinen to approve the request as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 4, Commissioners Manthei, Kopplin, Cosby and Sutinen Nay: 0 City of West Allis Page 5 Printed on 5/17/2024 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes April 18, 2024 F. POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION 19. PFC Financial Report The Commissioner had no questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 20. Communication: Resignation of Commissioner Kurt Kopplin All the Commissioner’s, Chief Pooler and Chief Mitchell thanked Commissioner Kopplin for his years of service both as an Alderman and for the last 10 years, as a Police and Fire Commissioner. G. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 7:08 pm All meetings of the Police and Fire Commission 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 6 Printed on 5/17/2024