HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-03-25 minutes 1
Public Safety Committee Meeting
Call to Order
The March 25, 2021, Public Safety Committee meeting was convened 7:32 a.m. by Councilman
Graham.
Attendance
Present: Committee Members: Councilman Graham, Councilwoman Ward, Councilman
Vogt, Councilman Schreiber and Councilman Hussey.
Guests: Mayor Carrie Tergin, City Administrator Steve Crowell, City Attorney Ryan
Moehlman, Fire Chief Matt Schofield, Police Chief Roger Schroeder, Police
Captain Deric Heislen, Police Lieutenant Chad Stieferman, and Assistant Fire
Chief Matt Bowden.
Approval of Minutes
Councilman Schreiber made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2021 meeting.
Councilwoman Ward seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
Discussion of Agenda Items
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Authorizing Advanced SWAT Training Agreement with Government Training Institute
Chief Schroeder stated the police department is requesting to enter into a contract with
Government Training Institute (GTI) to receive Type 3 training for the SWAT Team. The
Department of Homeland Security developed the criteria, and GFI is the sole source provider for
this training. There are three levels of nationally designated SWAT training, with Type 3 being
the level JCPD has the proper number of people and equipment to attain. The training would be
held for two weeks (80 hours of training) the end of April and beginning of May, with 18 SWAT
personnel attending. The cost is $2,200 per person. Approximately $30,000 would be paid from
the POST account with the remaining $9,000 paid from the training line item.
Councilman Hussey made a motion to include the training agreement on the consent
agenda at the next City Council Meeting for approval. Councilwoman Ward seconded the
motion. Motion approved.
Supplemental Appropriation for Police and Fire Radios
Chief Schroeder stated radios are the lifeline of the officers and the community, and are top of
the department's needs priority list. The current portable radios do not have full interoperability
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capabilities, which would allow officers to connect with other public safety agencies that operate
with the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network (MOSWIN). The objective is for each of
the department's 90 officers to have their own portable radio with MOSW IN capabilities. The
department has acquired 59 radios of which 44 were paid for from sales tax money and 15 were
paid for with money received from Cole County for 911 upgrades. An additional 31 radios at a
cost of $150,000 would provide each officer with their own portable radio.
Chief Schofield advised the fire department has secured 22 new radios through sales tax G
equipment allocations. The radios are in the same family (model/manufacture) as those being
purchased by the police department, but are the XE version. The radios are made to be used with
thick firefighter’s gloves and are high heat and water resistant. Because the radios are in the
same family, the batteries and some accessories are interchangeable. The fire department needs
13 additional radios at a cost of $80,000-$85,000. Along with 40 Kenwood/Viking multiband
radios that were purchased in 2017, this would complete phase 1 of the radio upgrade and
provide each firefighter with their own radio. The upgrade of mobile radios and the radio system
will need to be addressed in the future.
Councilman Hussey made a motion to forward the supplemental appropriation to the City
Council for approval. Councilwoman Ward seconded the motion. Motion approved.
OTHER BUSINESS
Councilman Graham asked for an update on personnel vacancies from both Chief Schroeder and
Chief Schofield
Fire Department Update
Chief Schofield advised they have one firefighter vacancy. He intends to send a recruit to the
Columbia recruit academy when the next class becomes available if the timing works. The fire
department has a current hiring list, but that list is dwindling and may need to be renewed soon.
Chief Schofield stated the fire department may have to refresh the list more often than every two
years going forward.
Open burning, which was allowed November 1 through March 1, has ended. There have been a
few ordinance violations, and they have responded to a number of cover fires.
Chief Schofield held semiannual department-wide meetings which consisted of six sessions last
week with all personnel. Annual performance measures and general updates were discussed.
The department is preparing for NFPA1582 national standard annual health physicals which will
be followed by their annual Spring physical assessment for all uniformed personnel.
Chief Schofield advised the Red Cross, who assists the fire department with their smoke detector
program, talked with the Lions Club last week about the five lines of services they provide.
Police Department Updates
Chief Schroeder advised the police department has two part-time non-sworn vacancies at the
moment. One vacancy was created when part-time property room technician Kandie
Mooneyham recently passed away from cancer. Chief Schroeder has offered conditional
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employment, pending psychological and physical examinations, to two candidates. He will
interview another candidate today. There are 3-4 police officer vacancies remaining. Chief
Schroeder noted there has been a drastic reduction in candidates applying for police officer
positions, and several young officers have resigned during this past year.
A sergeant promotional process is scheduled for April 13-15. The retirement of Sgt. Matherne
created the vacancy. Supervisors from Columbia, Springfield and O’Fallon police departments
make up the interview board. Ten internal and two external applicants are in the process.
Chief Schroeder stated he was pleased with the authorization of new police vehicles. They are in
various stages of acquisition and being equipped.
Councilman Graham inquired about the staffing of the CAT Team and if they were conducting
community patrols. Chief Schroeder advised CAT Team officers have temporarily been assigned
to the Patrol Section. Due to military deployment, restricted duty as a result of injuries and
resignations, the CAT Team officers are needed to provide staffing on the street. Councilman
Graham stated he hoped they would be back in the community soon as it is important for the
officers to be in conversation in the neighborhoods. Information sharing builds trust with the
officers, which is vital to the community.
Presentation of Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Chief Schroeder stated the renovations to the EOC were made possible with $204,000 in CARES
Act money. Lt. Chad Stieferman gave an overview of the upgrades to the committee.
Councilman Graham stated the City Council would continue their conversation regarding public
safety salaries, body cameras, and a proposed Public Safety Tax during the special work session
on Monday, March 29th.
Council Graham advised this would be his last Public Safety Committee meeting as his City
Council term expires in April. He has served on the committee for the past 8 years, 4 years as
chairman, and he was a member of the Police Personnel Board for six ye ars before he was
elected to the City Council. Public safety has been, and will continue to be, a top priority for him.
He finds the decrease in qualified applicants concerning. Councilman Graham stated he was
honored to have served on the committee and th anked both the fire department and the police
department for their service to the community.
Mayor Tergin thanked Councilman Graham for his service to the City Council and Public Safety
Committee. Mayor Tergin stated it is important to put resources towards public safety.
Councilman Graham will continue to work toward placing a proposed Public Safety Tax on the
upcoming ballot.
Mayor Tergin advised she had received compliments from community members regarding the
assistance they received from the fire department at the LINC during the COVID vaccination
event.
Councilman Graham also acknowledged Councilman Hussey’s six years serving on the Public
Safety Committee. His City Council terms also expires in April. Councilman Hussey thanked
Councilman Graham for his leadership.
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The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at the police department.
Adjourn
Councilman Hussey made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by
Councilman Vogt. The meeting was adjourned by Councilman Graham at 8:26 a.m.