Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fire department to contract community risk assessment; police add six hires and therapy canine
Summary
The Cottage Grove fire department selected a vendor for a community risk assessment and standards-of-cover study to review service delivery and Station 4’s role; the police department reported six new hires, a new therapy canine and an embedded social worker, plus equipment upgrades.
City public-safety staff reported personnel and planning updates to the Public Services Commission, including a planned community risk assessment for fire services and recent police staffing and program additions.
John, a city public-safety official, said the fire department ran a request for proposals and selected a finalist to perform a standards-of-cover and community risk assessment. The contract drafting is underway and staff expect to take the contract to the City Council in early April. John said the consultant will conduct a roughly six-month study to assess how the city delivers fire and emergency medical services and to recommend changes, including options for Station 4, which staff said is not currently staffed as a full response station.
Detective Sergeant Justin Hensler of the Cottage Grove Police Department said the department added six hires this year — including three lateral hires and three recruits who will start after licensing — and expanded community programs. Hensler said two employees are current CSOs (community service officers) and one is in the CSO cadet program. He said the department will swear in a therapy canine, Riggs, and noted the department continues to embed a social worker (staffed by Washington County) who responds to persons-in-crisis calls in partnership with police.
Hensler also said the department is updating officer equipment with new Tasers (Taser 7 models).
Staff did not request nor take any formal action at the meeting; the items were presented as updates and forthcoming contract actions that will appear before the City Council for approval where necessary.
