Ypsilanti firefighter Fred Williams III checks over the power tools on tower ladder one during his weekly check of the tower ladder.
Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com
The Michigan Professional Firefighter's Union president has cautioned the city of Ypsilanti from moving forward with a plan to establish a hybrid police and fire department, saying it would greatly impact the level of services citizens receive and not save the city any money.
"I think it's a significant change," said Mark Docherty, the MPFFU president in a presentation on Tuesday. "There are only 35 PSO departments in Michigan and 125 nationally. The next state with the most is Florida with eight. It's not a common practice. It is a rarity to see and I think it's worth talking about before we go forward in this move."
The presentation almost didn't happen after several Ypsilanti City Council members said they weren't in favor of it due to ongoing contract negotiations with the fire department.
In May, Council Member Susan Moeller requested the presentation, PSO Facts vs. Myths, be added to a future council meeting after being approached by Ypsilanti Fire Union President Ken Hobbs.
Moeller initially failed to secure a second in favor of the presentation, but eventually Council Member Ricky Jefferson seconded it, saying he supported city employees having the chance to speak before council about issues.
Docherty believes there are several misconceptions regarding hybrid departments, including the fact that a municipality can stop the transition to public safety at any time without incurring any additional costs or repercussions.
"The transition to public safety can be stopped but not without additional cost," Docherty said. "Once police officers are trained as firefighters under a public safety system they are entitled to the additional pay even if the municipality switches back."
Docherty said Meridian Township, which has switched back to traditional fire and police departments, was taken to arbitration by the Police Officers Association of Michigan before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission because the union wanted to uphold a pay increase that the employees received when they became cross-trained.
Docherty said the township still is required to pay the cross-trained officers the higher rate, even though the public safety department no longer exists.
"Meridian Township is one that went to hybrid model and went backwards because it failed," Docherty said. "The arbitrator ruled that even though they weren't doing that task anymore, they couldn't take the money away."
Katrease Stafford | AnnArbor.com
Ypsilanti just approved a contract with the POAM, which has elements of the hybrid public safety department in it that would be enforced if the city officially moves toward that department.
The contract states public safety officers would receive a 7 percent raise.
Docherty said he believes that in almost case of a public safety department being created, the police department fares better.
"It’s win-win for them," he said.
Ypsilanti Police Chief Amy Walker has a completely different view though.
"This issue has never been about police over fire, or fire over police," Walker told AnnArbor.com. "For those that may attempt to do that, it is unfortunate for them. We share the same oath of protecting our citizens and stand side by side on emergency runs helping one another, we need everyone to work together."
Walker said the POAM in ratifying their contract, gave concessions and opened their minds to public safety. POAM President Robert Peto previously told AnnArbor.com initially, he was heavily against the creation of the model, but compromised for the good of the community.
"To insinuate that they did it for a 7 percent raise if they become a public safety officer is an insult to their dedication to this city and the hard work they put in each and every day as police officers," Walker said.
"They did not even take a raise for the next couple years of their contract as police officers understand the city’s financial hardship. A 7 percent raise if and when public safety officers are determined and implemented by the city is minimal for taking on an additional full-time responsibility."
Ypsilanti is projecting it will save $2.1 million during the next five years with the creation of a hybrid police and fire department.
Documents previously obtained by AnnArbor.com state the city may spend $663,480 during the next four years to train new and existing officers, about $75,000 on uniforms and equipment, as well as several other fees totaling $943,480. The city believes it will find about $210,315 in short-term savings in one year or less and save $2,103,153 throughout the next five years.
The city said estimated annual long-term savings will amount to $420,631. A full conversion to the hybrid model is expected by 2016, according to the documents.
It would cost between $31,000 and $33,000 per individual to cross train firefighters and officers.
Docherty said public safety departments do not save cities money.
"I argue that is not realistic," Docherty said. "We have not yet heard how that is going to be accomplished. You have an understaffed police department and fire department. How do you train them to do each others jobs?"
Citing Kalamazoo as an example, he said if the city were to switch back to traditional departments, it would realize an annual savings of more than $7.8 million. Docherty said nearly all cities save more money with traditional departments.
City Manager Ralph Lange said no comment from the city would be made regarding the presentation, citing concerns about negotiations.
"We were advised by our two attorneys to not respond," Lange said.
Walker said she believes the city is moving in the right direction and her department will transition through whatever is decided.
Council member Susan Moeller
.Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com
"The city is moving in the right direction and there is plenty of work to do, so whatever is decided, the police department will continue to serve the public on patrol, day and night, for any type of public safety call that arises, even fire calls, to lend the assistance needed to help our citizens," Walker said.
Docherty said he believes the city should move forward with regionalization.
"We are supporting regionalization," he said. "This is done everywhere in the nation but here. There should be regionalization talks among the police, too. I know this is a heated issue, but far too often when cities consider this, they’re hearing from the police department, 'yes we can do this. We know what we’re doing with the fire service.' The scariest thing is a PSO fire officer that thinks they can go in and do the same thing we do."
Several firefighters have spoken in favor of regionalization in the past, including the former Chief Jon Ichesco, who also spoke at the meeting during public participation. Ichesco urged the city to consider regionalization, saying the citizens should be the ones to decide what they want through a vote.
"It should be allowed through the constituents," Ichesco said. "It's the people in the city that dictate the level of services that they want."
Walker said she believes officers within her department would be able to handle the new responsibilities, but the two departments must work together in order for the city to move forward.
"The city manager is deciding to move toward public safety and that is what the police department is attempting to prepare to do," Walker said. "The reality is that many cities do have successful public safety departments in various consolidations throughout Michigan and the United States. If regionalization is one of the solutions for the fire department, then that is fine as well." Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.