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Fall River public safety chiefs report staffing, grants and EOC planning; council seeks CIP update for PFAS‑free turnout gear
Summary
Police, fire, EMS and emergency management gave quarterly updates on staffing, event planning and grants — police described targeted patrols, fire noted recruit graduations and apparatus issues, EMS reported a 10–12% rise in 911 calls, and EMA described a $35,000 EMPG radio grant; council voted to send a letter to the mayor seeking a CIP update to fund PFAS‑free turnout gear.
The Fall River Committee on Public Safety heard quarterly updates from the city’s public safety departments and discussed emergency operations‑center planning and grant opportunities.
Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon briefed the committee on Emergency Operations Center planning and neighborhood presence projects intended to increase officer visibility. Bacon noted local crash statistics near a newly installed billboard are roughly on par with last year (30 accidents in 2025 vs. 31 so far this year) and described recruit and apparatus planning intended to reduce overtime pressure this summer.
Chief Fontes of Mercy Medical Services said the agency is on track to record a 10–12% increase in 911 calls this fiscal year and that Rescue 4 may handle about 4,600 calls. Fontes said the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) home‑visit program, which conducts about six home visits daily, is intended to reduce some 911 demand by addressing non‑emergency needs in the community.
Richard Aguiar, Director of Emergency Services (EMA), said EMA received an EMPG grant of $35,000 to replace radios and complete a communications repeater at Columbian Terrace Towers at no cost to the city. Aguiar described command‑center planning for large events and said FEMA and MEMA coordination is in place for anticipated events.
Chief Baken reported a regional recruit academy will graduate nine Fall River recruits on July 2, and discussed temporary apparatus shortages (Engine 5 and Ladder 4 were out of service at times) and use of loaner apparatus while awaiting deliveries.
Councilor Rofozo said the administration is preparing an application for the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to purchase PFAS‑free turnout gear for an estimated 70–80 sets at roughly $5,000–$6,000 per set and noted the grant requires a 10% match. Rofozo moved — and the committee approved by voice vote — a letter to the mayor requesting an update on modifying the capital improvement plan so funding would be available for a full set of PFAS‑free gear for city firefighters.
Members also discussed scheduling a future public safety meeting at the Emergency Operations Center to review current capabilities after a string of large events (Seafood Festival, Day of Portugal and July 4) that will test the trailer/mobile command center and communications systems.
Next steps recorded at the meeting include sending the letter to the mayor about the capital plan update, further staff follow‑up on radio and EOC grant timing, and ongoing monitoring of incident statistics near the waterfront billboard.
