Groveland Twp.- Firefighters and police officers may share duties if township officals have their way.
Township officials say if the Michigan State Police are no longer available to patrol area roads then township public safety officers, a combination of both firefighters and police officers, may be an option.
‘Because we’re a small community it allows us to be more flexible,? said Bob DePalma, township supervisor.
‘It may be easier to pick up the phone and call the Oakland County Sheriff and set up coverage, but that may not be the best solution for our township.?
DePalma along with others are clashing with Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s newly proposed budget which calls for the closure of the Groveland, Grand Haven, and Iron River State Police posts on Oct. 1. The savings are estimated at $1.1 million yet officials are balking at the proposal and the savings. Since the announcement to close the post last month Groveland, Holly and Rose townships have pooled resources and at a shared cost of $18,000 hired a lobbyist from Strategic Public Affairs in Novi to help save the Groveland post.
Until a final decision is made township officials have considered public safety officers who perform the duties of police, firefighters and emergency medical services depending on the need. Currently, the township has no police officers but has about 50 firefighters including five full-time from two fire stations.
While the public safety officer concept is just preliminary, DePalma says that cross-training firefighters and police officers has been done successfully in other areas. He added that several retired police officers live in the township area that may be interested in working for public safety if even a part-time basis.
The public safety officer concept has been implemented in other communities with a mix of success.
Lt. Tom Couling uniformed division commander for Meridian Township in Ingham County, a community of about 40,000 residents east of Lansing was a public safety officer between 1995 and 1998. Meridian’s public safety division included about 41 firefighters and 45 police officers.
‘When we were up and running with public safety officers we incorporated traditional police and traditional firefighters,? said Couling, a 27 year police department veteran. ‘With the combined staff you kept people active all the time under the umbrella of public safety.?
‘It takes a good management team to keep people on the road handling police calls, at the fire station and running out on a fire call. Then if they have an EMS it even adds to the issue,? said Couling.
‘There’s a start up cost with new equipment, training officers and other factors. But in the long run public safety provides better coverage in terms of the sheer numbers working. However, it’s a different mind-set to be a police officer than a firefighter? a real drawback.?
Couling explained that typically police officers are working eight hour shifts during a seven day, 24 hour work day. Conversely, firefighters work different hours such as 24 hours on duty, then off for a few days or some other variation.
‘It’s a dramatic change to firefighters? life-style. Not to mention it takes an aggressive training program to keep up-to-date with the latest technology.?
Couling added that public safety officers were paid more since their training was greater which lasted about three months for police or firefighters.
‘The idea of public safety officers in Groveland has been batted around,? said Steve McGee, township fire chief. ‘Right now we’re focused on keeping the system we have. It’s proven and it works.?
‘Our township board is also focused on saving money and providing the best services possible, so we have to be as creative as possible. Public safety has been one of the alternatives’The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department is not.?
While no actual cost for the Oakland County Sheriff to patrol the township has been established, McGee says each community that they cover is different and the cost is based on community needs.
‘I don’t think anyone here at the township fire department would have a problem with being a police officer too.?
The Ionia Department of Public Safety, located about 30 miles east of Grand Rapids has combined police, firefighters and first response medical since 1987. The department of public services is responsible for about 11,000 residents within the city limits of Ionia plus fire coverage of Ionia and Easton townships. The Michigan State Police and Ionia County Sheriff’s Department provide police protection for the townships. Ambulance services are contracted.
There staff includes about 19 public safety officers, 13 paid on call firefighters and four administrators. Of the 36 employees 35 are trained as firefighters, 20 are police officers and 27 are trained as medical first responders. All public safety officers are cross-trained in police, fire, and medical. The agency is staffed at all times with a minimum of two public safety officers, but it’s common to have at least three on duty, says David Bulling, director of public safety and a 27 year police veteran.
‘The public safety officers will dress for a shift as a police officer and work in that capacity until a fire or medical call is dispatched,? said Bulling. The department also frequently schedules paid on-call firefighters during weekends to assist with fire and medical related calls.?
Bulling says for a community the size of Ionia public safety officers are very cost effective providing more police on the road without compromising the fire response to the citizens.
‘We’re very progressive. No one is being paid to stay at the fire station 24 hours per day, seven days per week. There are times when the fire station is unmanned. We make sure that at least one police officer is on the road at one time.?
‘The paid on call firefighters are key to the success of the public safety, we can’t have enough full-time firefighters to make it cost effective.?