Police and Fire Commission

City of West Allis Meeting Minutes Police and Fire Commission Thursday, March 20, 2025 6:00 PM West Allis Police Department 11301 W. Lincoln 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 Mark Manthei, Danielle Romain, Michelle Sutinen and Kimberly Cosby Excused: Commissioner Sajar Tolani Also present: Interim Assistant Chief Armando Suarez Del Real, Firefighter Quinn Dombrowski - Fire Department; Deputy Chief Chris Marks - Police Department; Recording Secretary Bridget Morawetz C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the February 20, 2025 Regular and Closed Session Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Cosby and seconded by Commissioner Sutinen to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 4, Commissioners Manthei, Romain, Sutinen and Cosby Nay: 0 City of West Allis Page 1 Printed on 4/18/2025 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 D. FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. Fire and Rescue Report Interim Assistant Chief Suarez Del Real stated that training in February focused on ice water rescue. He noted that this training exercise is conducted at an ice pond located on the Quad Graphics grounds in West Allis. He also stated the department was donated a structure that was to be demolished and fire personnel had an opportunity to practice fire scenarios in a location other than the training tower. I/AC Suarez Del Real then reviewed some of the benchmarks included in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 2. Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) and EMS Report I/AC Suarez Del Real spoke with the Commissioners about a MIH call that was referred to the team by Mayor Devine. He stated that the couple were in their 90’s and were in need of safety assistance. I/AC Suarez Del Real stated that after an evaluation, the team discussed safety and healthy habits with the couple as well as installed grab bars and replaced their outdated smoke detectors with a 10-year CO/smoke detector combo. I/AC Suarez Del Real noted that I/FC Schaak was part of a panel for a Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Conference that was held in Florida recently. He stated that participation at the conference was completely funded by TASC which is a part of the Bureau of Justice funding grant. Lastly, I/AC Suarez Del Real stated that the training department has started the PALS and NREMT recertification process for all members of the department. He also reviewed some of the benchmarks included in this report. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 3. Department Administration and Communications Report I/Assistant Chief Suarez Del Real stated that two of the newest recruits, PFFs Pagel and Jenkins, continue to move through their required training and most recently completed their 9-month testing exams and are in good standing with the department. I/AC Suarez Del Real spoke briefly about the career development templates that the department is creating to assist members with goal development and improvement guidelines for long-term success with the department. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 2 Printed on 4/18/2025 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 4. QPR Performance Report I/AC Suarez Del Real did not speak to anything included in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. 5. Fire Department Financial Report I/AC Suarez Del Real did not speak to anything included in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 3 Printed on 4/18/2025 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 E. POLICE DEPARTMENT 6. Communication: 2024 Police Department Annual Report DC Marks highlighted achievements and accomplishments noted in the police department’s 2024 annual report. He stated that this report is posted to the city website as well as on the police department website page for public review. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 7. Request for approval: Rate of pay and vacation accruals for lateral police officers A motion was made by Commissioner Romain and seconded by Commissioner Sutinen to approve this request as presented by DC Marks. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 4, Commissioners Manthei, Romain, Sutinen and Cosby Nay: 0 8. Request for approval: Initiate police officer recruitment process DC Marks requested approval to begin a police officer recruitment process. A motion was made by Commissioner Romain and seconded by Commissioner Cosby to approval this request. The motion carried unanimously. 9. Communication: 18-month probationary period for Officer Morgan Youngquist DC Marks stated that Officer Youngquist has successfully completed his probationary period and has been a very positive addition to the department. A motion was made by Commissioner Sutinen and seconded by Commissioner Romain to add Officer Youngquist to the police department permanent roster. The motion carried unanimously: 10. Police Department Financial Report DC Marks did not speak to anything included in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. 11. Monthly Performance Report DC Marks stated that community outreach officers presented an informational program in February to staff members of the West Allis Library and Envision Surgery Center called civilian response to active shooter events. City of West Allis Page 4 Printed on 4/18/2025 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 DC Marks went on to discuss two significant incidents that occurred in February. One resulted in the arrest of an individual for sexual assault who, upon further investigation, had a pending felony case for another sexual assault in the Wisconsin area. This individual is in custody and charged with felony bail jumping and 4th degree sexual assault. DC Marks also discussed an incident that involved a father and daughter duo creating havoc in the vicinity of 63rd and Arthur while searching for the daughter’s missing cell phone. He stated that they were taken into custody after some resistance and both were charged appropriately. DC Marks noted that the first snow emergency of the year was declared in early February resulting in 462 snow emergency citations written and 53 vehicles towed. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 12. Training Bureau Report DC Marks stated that all sworn department personnel have completed the two-day optics implementation training which included weapon handling and live fire work. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 13. Patrol Bureau Report DC Marks briefly discussed a domestic violence incident involving a child. He stated that the male suspect was very resistive and confrontational and was eventually tased before being taken into custody and charged appropriately. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 14. Criminal Investigations Bureau Report DC Marks stated that Pawn America were victims of a suspected theft ring that stole approximately $30,000 worth of jewelry from the store. DC Marks stated that upon investigation of the incident, two suspects were arrested and determined to be part of a larger theft ring based in Romanian. The suspects were also linked to additional such jewelry thefts in Shorewood, WI and Illinois. The Commissioners had no additional questions or comments and the report was placed on file. 15. Community Services Bureau Report DC Marks did not speak to anything included in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. City of West Allis Page 5 Printed on 4/18/2025 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 16. Communications Bureau Report DC Marks did not speak to anything included in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. 17. Tavern Violations Report DC Marks did not speak to anything included in this report and the Commissioners had no additional questions or comments. The report was placed on file. F. POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION 18. PFC Financial Report This report was reviewed and placed on file. 19. Closed session: Discussion and review of questions as it relates to the Board of Police and Fire Commission interviews of selected recruit candidates for the police and fire departments 20. Request for approval: Revised fire and police department candidate interview questions. A motion was made by Commissioner Cosby and seconded by Commissioner Romain to table this request until the April 17, 2025 PFC meeting. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 4, Commissioners Manthei, Romain, Sutinen and Cosby Nay: 0 For agenda #19, the board may convene in closed session pursuant to the provisions of Section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wis. Stats. which permits 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 After a short recess, on a motion made and seconded, the meeting convened into closed session at 7:10 pm On a motion made and seconded, the meeting reconvened into open session at 7:58 pm City of West Allis Page 6 Printed on 4/18/2025 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 G. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 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 7 Printed on 4/18/2025