Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Northfield department updates: police K-9, fire station work and senior snow-plow program
Summary
Police and fire chiefs and the service superintendent reported construction progress on public-safety facilities, staffing updates — including a new K-9 in training — community programs such as Shop with a Cop, and operational details for the senior snow-plow program.
At the Village of Northfield’s Dec. 11 meeting, department chiefs reported on staffing, facilities and community programs affecting public safety and operations.
Police Chief Brian Zajac said the department’s current K-9, Cache, received additional testing after unfavorable lab results; Cache does not have Addison’s disease and is undergoing further testing for possible cancer. The department is bringing a new six-month-old Belgian Malinois named Frankie from the Czech Republic into training; Interstate Towing owner John Trgo donated a ballistic vest for the new K-9. Chief Zajac said Village-sponsored cadet Alec Barker completed academy training, passed the state exam and is expected to start after the new year, which will restore the department to 16 officers. Officer McKay led the Shop with a Cop fundraiser that raised $4,420 to take roughly 15 children shopping and to a pizza party.
Fire Chief Jason Buss briefed council on the department’s construction project: final site work and a punch list remain and two inspections must occur before an occupancy permit can be issued; an open house is planned for spring or summer. Chief Buss said the University Hospitals paramedic agreement with the MGM has ended and that change may increase squad calls to the MGM. He also reported approximately 1,800 people have signed up for the emergency text notification service; roughly 500 of those are Village residents.
Service Department Superintendent Jason Walters said footers for a new police station building will be installed soon and the contractor hopes to erect the building shell within about two months. He restated the senior driveway snow-plow policy: plowing of registered senior driveways occurs within 24 hours after a snow event and only after roads are plowed; 189 seniors are enrolled and residents with emergencies may contact the department.
Why it matters: The staffing and facility updates affect emergency response capacity and community services (notification system, Shop with a Cop, senior snow-plowing). The K-9 health update and donation highlight resource needs and community support; construction updates give residents a timeframe for the new police facility.
What’s next: The police K-9 training will proceed and the fire department awaits final inspections before occupancy. The department heads recommended that the fire station open-house date be shared with sewer-billing communications to reach residents.
